The Commission concluded today its first review of the 2021 adequacy decision for the Republic of Korea, which allows the free flow of personal data from the EU to this country. The review confirms that the Republic of Korea continues to provide an adequate level of protection for personal data transferred from the EU. The EU and Korean data protection frameworks have converged further, notably following amendments to South Korean law that strengthened the rights of data subject. The report also lays out recommendations to further reinforce some of the safeguards provided by the South Korean framework, in particular with respect to data transfers to third countries and enforcement.
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, said: “Korea is an important and trusted digital partner for the EU. Today’s report is one of the many testaments to that. I am pleased to see that our respective data protection frameworks are closer than ever. The mutual adequacy decision brings benefits both for businesses and citizens in Europe and the Republic of Korea”.
Michael McGrath, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection, said: “Trusted data flows are the lifeblood of the digital economy. Strong data protection and open international trade are not competing objectives - they reinforce one another. When people and businesses can trust that their data is protected, economies can connect, innovate and grow. The EU and Korea have built a strong foundation for this cooperation, and together we are well placed to help shape the global standards that will underpin the digital economy of tomorrow.”
Mutual data flows between the EU and Korea benefit more than 500 million people. They also enhance the benefits of a trade relationship worth more than €150 billion per year. The mutual data arrangement complements and enhances the benefits of the EU-South Korea Free Trade Agreement and of the Digital Trade Agreement.
More information on adequacy decisions is available online.
- Publication date
- 23 July 2026
- Author
- Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers
- Department
- Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers
- Location
- Brussels
Contacts
Press team
(For more information: Guillaume Mercier – Tel.: +32 2 298 05 64; Antoine Lomba – Tel.: +32 2 299 32 33)
- Name
- Press team
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