Standards Comparison

    K-PIPA

    Mandatory
    2011

    South Korea's stringent regulation for personal data protection

    VS

    ISO 22301

    Voluntary
    2019

    International standard for business continuity management systems.

    Quick Verdict

    K-PIPA mandates data privacy for Korean residents with consent and breach rules, while ISO 22301 is a voluntary BCMS standard for global resilience. Companies adopt K-PIPA for legal compliance in Korea; ISO 22301 for disruption recovery and trust.

    Data Privacy

    K-PIPA

    Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA)

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

    Key Features

    • Mandatory independent Chief Privacy Officers for all handlers
    • Granular explicit opt-in consent for sensitive data transfers
    • 72-hour breach notifications to subjects and regulators
    • Extraterritorial scope targeting foreign entities monitoring Koreans
    • Revenue-based fines up to 3% of global annual revenue
    Business Continuity

    ISO 22301

    ISO 22301:2019 Business continuity management systems Requirements

    Cost
    €€€
    Complexity
    Medium
    Implementation Time
    0-6 months

    Key Features

    • PDCA cycle for continual BCMS improvement
    • Business Impact Analysis for critical functions
    • Risk assessment and recovery strategies
    • Leadership commitment and policy mandates
    • Seamless integration with ISO 27001

    Detailed Analysis

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

    K-PIPA Details

    What It Is

    K-PIPA, or the 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 deletion of personal information, including sensitive data like biometrics and unique identifiers such as resident registration numbers. Its consent-centric, risk-based approach emphasizes transparency, minimization, and accountability, applying to domestic and foreign entities processing Korean residents' data.

    Key Components

    • Core principles: explicit consent, purpose limitation, data minimization.
    • Mandatory Chief Privacy Officers (CPOs) with independence for all handlers.
    • Data subject rights (access, erasure, portability) with 10-day responses.
    • Security measures per 2024 PIPC Guidelines (encryption, access controls).
    • No fixed control count; enforced via PIPC oversight, fines up to 3% revenue.

    Why Organizations Use It

    Compliance avoids hefty fines (e.g., Google's KRW 70B), builds trust, enables EU adequacy flows. Strategic benefits include privacy-by-design for AI, competitive edge in Asia-Pacific markets, reduced breach risks through proactive governance.

    Implementation Overview

    Phased approach: gap analysis, CPO appointment, consent tools, security upgrades, vendor audits. Applies to all sizes processing Korean data; no certification but PIPC guidelines/ISMS-P recommended. Involves training, DPIAs, 72-hour breach plans; 12-18 months typical for mid-sized firms.

    ISO 22301 Details

    What It Is

    ISO 22301:2019 is an international certification standard for Business Continuity Management Systems (BCMS). It provides a framework to protect against, reduce likelihood of, and recover from disruptions like cyberattacks, pandemics, and natural disasters. The standard uses a PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle and risk-based approach via Business Impact Analysis (BIA) and risk assessments.

    Key Components

    • 10 clauses (4-10 core): context, leadership, planning, support, operation, evaluation, improvement
    • Flexible, non-prescriptive requirements tailored to organization
    • Built on Annex SL for integration with ISO 27001, 31000
    • 3-year certification with annual surveillance audits

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Minimizes downtime, financial losses; enhances resilience and trust
    • Meets regulatory needs (e.g., NIS Directive, NIST)
    • Improves risk management, reputation, competitive edge
    • Lowers insurance premiums, aids procurement

    Implementation Overview

    • Gap analysis, BIA, training, testing, audits
    • Applies to all sizes/sectors globally
    • Typical 60 days to 6 months; two-stage certification process

    Key Differences

    Scope

    K-PIPA
    Personal data protection, consent, rights
    ISO 22301
    Business continuity, disruption recovery

    Industry

    K-PIPA
    All sectors handling Korean data
    ISO 22301
    All sectors worldwide, all sizes

    Nature

    K-PIPA
    Mandatory law, PIPC enforcement
    ISO 22301
    Voluntary certification standard

    Testing

    K-PIPA
    Security audits, breach simulations
    ISO 22301
    BIA, exercises, internal/external audits

    Penalties

    K-PIPA
    3% revenue fines, imprisonment
    ISO 22301
    Loss of certification, no legal fines

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about K-PIPA and ISO 22301

    K-PIPA FAQ

    ISO 22301 FAQ

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