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AMCHAM hosts policy dialogue with PIPC
chairperson
By Ko
Dong-hwan, The Korea Times - The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM)
hosted Song Kyung-hee, chairperson of the Personal Information Protection
Commission (PIPC), for a policy dialogue in Seoul Friday.
Amid growing
public attention to personal data protection, the session brought together
about 80 representatives from AMCHAM member companies and the broader business
community.
During the
event, Song outlined key policy directions for Korea’s personal data protection
framework in 2026 and exchanged views with participants on advancing trusted
data use in the artificial intelligence (AI) era while strengthening privacy
protections.
“As both Korea
and the United States place AI at the center of their economic strategies, this
is an important moment to further deepen bilateral cooperation,” AMCHAM
Chairman James Kim said.
“Strengthening
regulatory interoperability — particularly in areas such as data governance and
cross-border data flows — will be essential to unlocking this potential.”
Kim also cited
AMCHAM’s 2026 Korea Business Environment Survey, noting that more than 65
percent of respondents view Korea’s regulatory environment as restrictive,
highlighting the continued need for regulatory reform.
“In this
context, we appreciate the leadership role the PIPC plays in shaping the future
of Korea’s digital economy and AI ecosystem,” he said. “We look forward to
continued collaboration between the government and industry to strengthen
Korea’s global competitiveness in the AI era.”
The PIPC said
it plans to establish a strategic governance framework to ensure the safe
cross-border transfer of data in response to the rapid expansion of digital
services and the growth of the global data economy.
As part of the
effort, the commission plans to introduce internationally recognized mechanisms
for cross-border data transfers, including Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs)
and Binding Corporate Rules (BCRs), along with additional safeguards such as
data transfer impact assessments.
The dialogue
also provided an opportunity for multinational companies from sectors including
global platforms, IT and financial services to share industry perspectives on
Korea’s data protection policies and regulatory implementation.
During the
Q&A session, Song addressed questions related to the Personal Information
Protection Act and encouraged foreign companies operating in Korea to ensure
full compliance with domestic laws and regulations.
She also
emphasized the growing importance of trust-based international data cooperation
as cross-border data flows expand in the digital economy. Given the close
economic partnership between Korea and the U.S., Song said efforts will
continue to foster a data exchange environment that reflects the personal data
protection frameworks of both countries.
The AMCHAM
Policy Talks series serves as a platform for dialogue between policymakers and
the international business community, helping global companies stay informed
about policy developments while supporting efforts to improve Korea’s business
environment.
