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The Republic of Korea Is Confirmed by the European Commission to Continue Providing an Adequate Level of Personal Data Protection

On 23 July 2026, the European Commission (“Commission”) published the first review of its 2021 adequacy decision concerning the Republic of Korea and confirmed that the country continues to provide an adequate level of protection for personal data transferred from the European Union (“EU”).

Under the adequacy decision, personal data may be transferred from the EU to the Republic of Korea without the need to implement additional transfer safeguards.

According to the Commission’s findings:

  • The EU and South Korean data protection frameworks have further converged since the adequacy decision was adopted.
  • Amendments made to South Korean legislation have strengthened the rights of data subjects.
  • The safeguards applicable to personal data transferred from the EU continue to ensure an adequate level of protection.
  • Further improvements have been recommended, particularly in relation to onward transfers of personal data to third countries and the enforcement of data protection rules.
  • Mutual data flows between the EU and Korea benefit more than 500 million people and support a bilateral trade relationship worth over EUR 150 billion annually.
  • The mutual data arrangement complements and enhances the benefits of both the EU-South Korea Free Trade Agreement and the Digital Trade Agreement.

You can access the full text of the Commission’s announcement here.

Kind regards,

Zumbul Attorneys-at-Law

info@zumbul.av.tr

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