Korea's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) is stricter than GDPR in several key ways. If your SaaS is expanding to Asia, here's what you must know before going live.
PIPA vs GDPR: Key Differences
| Aspect | GDPR | PIPA |
|---|---|---|
| Legitimate interest | ✅ Allowed | ❌ Not recognized |
| Consent granularity | Bundled OK | Each purpose separately |
| Cross-border transfer | Adequacy or SCCs | Explicit user consent or contract |
| Data localization | Not required | Sensitive data: local server preferred |
| Fines | 4% global revenue | Up to ₩300M ($220k) |
| DPO requirement | Required for large processors | Required for companies handling 50k+ records |
The Consent Requirement That Catches Everyone
PIPA requires explicit consent for each separate purpose. You cannot bundle: "We use your data for service delivery, marketing, and analytics" into one checkbox.
You need three separate consent checkboxes, each explaining:
- What data
- Why collected
- How long retained
- Third parties who receive it
Quick Compliance Check
# Scan your site for PIPA compliance issues
curl "https://api.lazy-mac.com/k-privacy-scanner/scan?url=https://your-site.com"
Returns a JSON report flagging:
- Missing consent granularity
- Inadequate privacy policy sections
- Cross-border transfer disclosure gaps
- Data retention policy issues
What to Fix Before Korea Launch
- Separate consent forms for each data purpose
- Korean privacy policy (translation not enough — structure matters)
- Data subject rights page: access, correction, deletion in Korean
- Cross-border transfer notice if any data leaves Korea
- DPO appointment if you'll have 50k+ Korean users
The PIPA scan API catches ~80% of common violations before they become audit findings.
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