EU initiates process to adopt data protection adequacy decision for South Korea

The European Commission has announced the ‘successful conclusion of the adequacy talks between the European Union and the Republic of Korea’. An adequacy finding would allow for the free and safe data flows from the EU to the Republic of Korea for both commercial operators and the public sector. According to Privacy Laws, the EU started its data protection adequacy negotiations with South Korea in January 2017, and was one of the drivers leading 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. After the adoption of an opinion by the European Data Protection Board (EDPB), and approval by representatives of EU Member States, the Commission is expected to adopt its adequacy decision in the coming months.