Standards Comparison

    K-PIPA

    Mandatory
    2011

    South Korea's stringent regulation for personal data protection

    VS

    ISO 14064

    Voluntary
    2018

    International standard for GHG quantification, reporting, and verification.

    Quick Verdict

    K-PIPA mandates strict data privacy for Korean operations with heavy fines, while ISO 14064 voluntarily standardizes GHG accounting for global credibility. Companies adopt K-PIPA for legal compliance in Korea; ISO 14064 for verifiable sustainability reporting and market trust.

    Data Privacy

    K-PIPA

    Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA)

    Cost
    €€€€
    Complexity
    High
    Implementation Time
    12-18 months

    Key Features

    • Mandates independent Chief Privacy Officers for all handlers
    • Requires granular explicit consent for sensitive processing
    • Enforces 72-hour breach notifications to subjects
    • Applies extraterritorially to foreign entities targeting Koreans
    • Imposes fines up to 3% of annual global revenue
    Greenhouse Gas Accounting

    ISO 14064

    ISO 14064: Greenhouse gases specification and guidance

    Cost
    €€€
    Complexity
    High
    Implementation Time
    6-12 months

    Key Features

    • Three-part modular structure for inventories, projects, assurance
    • Five core principles: relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency, accuracy
    • Defines Scope 1-3 organizational boundaries and quantification
    • Supports project baselines, additionality, and monitoring
    • Enables independent validation/verification statements

    Detailed Analysis

    A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

    K-PIPA Details

    What It Is

    K-PIPA, or Personal Information Protection Act, is South Korea's comprehensive data protection regulation enacted in 2011 with major amendments in 2020, 2023, and 2024. It governs collection, use, storage, transfer, and destruction of personal information by public and private entities. Scope covers domestic and foreign handlers processing Korean residents' data, emphasizing consent-centric, risk-based principles like transparency, minimization, and accountability.

    Key Components

    • Core pillars: consent management, security safeguards, data subject rights, cross-border transfers.
    • Mandates Chief Privacy Officers (CPOs), granular consents, encryption, access controls.
    • Built on GDPR-aligned principles but with stricter consent primacy, no private DPIAs.
    • Enforced by PIPC via fines up to 3% revenue, corrective orders, criminal sanctions.

    Why Organizations Use It

    Legal compliance avoids massive fines (e.g., Google's $50M). Enhances trust, enables EU adequacy data flows, supports AI/innovation via pseudonymization. Builds competitive edge in privacy-sensitive markets, mitigates breach risks through rapid notifications.

    Implementation Overview

    Phased approach: gap analysis, CPO appointment, policy development, technical controls, training, audits. Applies to all data handlers, especially large entities. No certification but PIPC guidelines, ISMS-P for transfers; requires Korean policies, 10-day rights responses.

    ISO 14064 Details

    What It Is

    ISO 14064 is an international standard series (ISO 14064-1:2018, -2:2019, -3:2019) for greenhouse gas (GHG) quantification, reporting, and verification. It provides a modular framework for organizations and projects, emphasizing principle-based accounting.

    Key Components

    • Three parts: Part 1 (organizational inventories), Part 2 (project reductions/removals), Part 3 (validation/verification).
    • Five core principles: relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency, accuracy.
    • Scope 1-3 emissions classification, boundary setting, uncertainty management.
    • Supports third-party assurance, no formal certification but verification statements.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Meets regulatory demands (e.g., CSRD, SB-253), enables carbon markets.
    • Builds investor trust, reduces greenwashing risks.
    • Drives operational efficiencies, supply-chain engagement.
    • Enhances competitiveness in ESG disclosures.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: governance, boundary design, data systems, verification.
    • Applies to all sizes/industries; complex for Scope 3-heavy firms.
    • Involves cross-functional teams, software tools, optional ISO 14065-accredited verifiers. (178 words)

    Key Differences

    Scope

    K-PIPA
    Personal data protection and privacy
    ISO 14064
    GHG emissions quantification and reporting

    Industry

    K-PIPA
    All sectors handling Korean data
    ISO 14064
    All sectors with GHG emissions

    Nature

    K-PIPA
    Mandatory national law with fines
    ISO 14064
    Voluntary international standard

    Testing

    K-PIPA
    CPO audits and breach reporting
    ISO 14064
    Independent GHG verification audits

    Penalties

    K-PIPA
    3% revenue fines, imprisonment
    ISO 14064
    No legal penalties, certification loss

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about K-PIPA and ISO 14064

    K-PIPA FAQ

    ISO 14064 FAQ

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