EU and South Korea complete adequacy talks
The European Commission today announced the ‘successful conclusion of the adequacy talks between the European Union and the Republic of Korea’. An adequacy finding will enable free and safe data flows from the EU to the Republic of Korea. The forthcoming adequacy finding will cover both private and public sector data controllers.
The EU started its adequacy talks with South Korea in January 2017. Now, four years later, South Korea is closer than ever to receive the adequacy decision. In preparation for the adequacy assessment, South Korea amended its data protection laws in 2020. The announcement refers to “the recent entry into force of the new Personal Information Protection Act in the Republic of Korea and the strengthening of the powers of the Personal Information Protection Commission.”
The next steps are an opinion by the European Data Protection Board (EDPB), and approval by a committee composed of representatives of the EU Member States. Once these steps have been completed, the Commission can adopt the adequacy decision.
Bruno Gencarelli, Head of Unit – International Data Flows and Protection, European Commission, has agreed to speak about the EU’s adequacy programme at an online session of PL&B’s 34th Annual International Conference, 5-7 July 2021.