Standards Comparison

    K-PIPA

    Mandatory
    2011

    South Korea's stringent personal data protection regulation

    VS

    TISAX

    Mandatory
    2017

    Automotive framework for information security assessments and exchange

    Quick Verdict

    K-PIPA mandates data privacy compliance for Korean operations with consent and fines, while TISAX provides voluntary security assessments for automotive suppliers. Companies adopt K-PIPA to avoid penalties; TISAX to secure contracts and trust.

    Data Privacy

    K-PIPA

    Personal Information Protection Act

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

    Key Features

    • Mandatory independent CPOs for all handlers
    • Granular explicit consent primacy
    • 72-hour breach notifications to subjects
    • Extraterritorial scope targeting Korean users
    • 10-day data subject rights responses
    Cybersecurity

    TISAX

    Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange (TISAX)

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

    Key Features

    • ENX portal enables shared assessment results across partners
    • Three assessment levels scaled to data protection needs
    • VDA ISA catalog with 70+ automotive-specific controls
    • Prototype protection modules for physical and data security
    • Maturity model (0-5 scale) for control effectiveness

    Detailed Analysis

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

    K-PIPA Details

    What It Is

    K-PIPA (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, sensitive, and unique identification information by domestic and foreign data handlers. Adopting a consent-centric, risk-based approach, it emphasizes transparency, purpose limitation, and data minimization, with extraterritorial scope for entities targeting Korean residents.

    Key Components

    • Core principles: explicit granular consent, accountability via mandatory CPOs, security safeguards.
    • Data subject rights: access, rectification, erasure, portability, objection to automated decisions (10-day responses).
    • Security and breach response: encryption, 72-hour notifications.
    • Enforcement by PIPC with fines up to 3% revenue; no certification but ISMS-P for transfers.

    Why Organizations Use It

    Legal compliance avoids massive fines (e.g., Google's KRW 70B); enhances trust, enables market access, supports AI/data innovation via pseudonymization; builds stakeholder confidence amid strict enforcement.

    Implementation Overview

    Phased approach: gap analysis, CPO appointment, consent systems, technical controls, training, audits. Applies to all sizes processing Korean data; no formal certification but PIPC guidelines and vendor oversight required. (178 words)

    TISAX Details

    What It Is

    TISAX (Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange) is a standardized assessment framework developed by the ENX Association and VDA for the automotive industry. It verifies organizations' ability to protect sensitive information like prototypes, IP, and personal data against threats, using a risk-based approach with three maturity levels: Basic, Significant, Very High.

    Key Components

    • VDA ISA catalog (version 5.0.4/6.0) with 70+ controls in 7 groups: policy, organization, access, operations, etc.
    • Builds on ISO 27001 with automotive-specific prototype protection.
    • Assessment levels dictate self-assessment to on-site audits.
    • ENX portal for sharing labels valid 3 years.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Contractual mandates from OEMs (e.g., BMW, Volkswagen).
    • Reduces duplicate audits (70-90% efficiency), cuts costs.
    • Mitigates risks, enables market access in €2.5T chain.
    • Builds trust, competitive edge via resilience.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: preparation/gap analysis (1-3 months), remediation/tabletops (3-9), audit (2-4), ongoing sustainment.
    • Targets suppliers, OEMs, services; scalable SMEs to globals.
    • Accredited providers (e.g., DQS, TÜV) for Significant/Very High.

    Key Differences

    Scope

    K-PIPA
    Personal data protection, consent, rights
    TISAX
    Information security, prototype protection

    Industry

    K-PIPA
    All sectors, South Korea-focused
    TISAX
    Automotive supply chain, global

    Nature

    K-PIPA
    Mandatory national law, PIPC enforced
    TISAX
    Voluntary industry assessment, ENX managed

    Testing

    K-PIPA
    No formal audits, CPO oversight
    TISAX
    AL1-AL3 assessments by accredited providers

    Penalties

    K-PIPA
    3% revenue fines, imprisonment
    TISAX
    Contract loss, no legal penalties

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about K-PIPA and TISAX

    K-PIPA FAQ

    TISAX FAQ

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