K-PIPA
South Korea's stringent regulation for personal data protection
ISO 22301
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.
K-PIPA
Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA)
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
ISO 22301
ISO 22301:2019 Business continuity management systems Requirements
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
| Aspect | K-PIPA | ISO 22301 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Personal data protection, consent, rights | Business continuity, disruption recovery |
| Industry | All sectors handling Korean data | All sectors worldwide, all sizes |
| Nature | Mandatory law, PIPC enforcement | Voluntary certification standard |
| Testing | Security audits, breach simulations | BIA, exercises, internal/external audits |
| Penalties | 3% revenue fines, imprisonment | Loss of certification, no legal fines |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about K-PIPA and ISO 22301
K-PIPA FAQ
ISO 22301 FAQ
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