Personal Information Protection Commission

Press Release

The PIPC Initiates Equivalence Recognition Review of the United Kingdom

- Following Korea’s equivalence recognition of the EU, the PIPC has initiated its equivalence recognition review of the UK to facilitate business activities based on safe data transfer mechanisms between the two jurisdictions

October 1, 2026

(This is an unofficial translation of a press release, originally prepared in Korean.)

The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) announced that it has begun reviewing whether the United Kingdom (UK) provides a level of personal data protection equivalent to that of Korea, starting October, 2026.

The PIPA stipulates that the PIPC may recognize the personal information protection system of a country or international organization as equivalent to that of Korea where its privacy framework, the level of respect for data subjects’ rights, redress mechanisms, and other factors are deemed equivalent to those of Korea. However, cross-border data transfers must still meet legal requirements for the collection, use, and provision of personal information, safeguards, etc.

The PIPC carried out a comprehensive review of the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA). As a result, Korea’s first equivalence recognition is successfully made in September 2025. This year, the European Commission (EC)’s review concluded that Korea continues to ensure a high level of personal data protection following the adequacy decision made in 2021. The EU’s adequacy decision recognizes that a country or international organization outside the EU offers an adequate level of personal data protection compared with the EU. Thanks to the mutual adequacy arrangement, personal data can flow from the EU to Korea, and vice versa, without being subject to any further conditions.

The PIPC was reviewing which country would be appropriate for the next equivalence recognition, informed by its review experience with the EU and feedback from industry, research-side stakeholders. After holding two Expert Committee on Cross-Border Data Transfers meetings in August and September, the PIPC selected the UK after comprehensively considering cooperation networks in the economic and digital sectors, similarities in the personal information protection frameworks, the counterpart jurisdiction’s willingness, and reciprocity between the two jurisdictions.

The PIPC will conduct a comprehensive review of the UK’s data protection framework, including its oversight, enforcement and redress mechanisms, to assess whether the UK’s personal data protection levels are equivalent to Korea’s.

Mutual adequacy arrangements between the EU and Korea are expected to result in economic effects worth up to USD 32.9 trillion in trade (KRW 47 trillion) in the mid-to-long term. Once mutual adequacy arrangements between Korea and the UK is completed, they are expected to serve a safe buttress for the data economy, including trade and the expansion of joint international research projects.

PIPC Chairperson Kyung Hee Song said, “Following the successful completion of the mutual adequacy arrangement between Korea and the EU, the PIPC will establish a mechanism to facilitate safe and smooth data transfers between Korea and the UK.” She also added, “It is expected to further expand trust-based global data cooperation that safeguards individuals’ privacy and enables businesses, public and research institutions to make safe and effective use of data.” 

* A PDF file, formatted for better readability, is attached.