South KoreaIs consent required for collecting a child's personal data?
Yes, consent from a parent or legal guardian is required to collect personal data from a child under 14 years old in South Korea.
What the Law Says
South Korean law strictly regulates the collection of personal information from minors to protect their privacy and autonomy.
The Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) prohibits the collection of personal information from children under the age of 14 without prior consent from their parent or legal guardian.
This requirement applies to all entities—public and private—that process personal data, including websites, mobile apps, schools, and service providers.
Consent must be obtained in writing or through another verifiable method, and records of such consent must be retained for at least 30 days after processing ends.
Statutory TextA personal information controller shall not collect personal information of a person under fourteen years of age without obtaining prior consent from his/her parent or guardian.
— Personal Information Protection Act, Art. 32 — Collection of Personal Information from Minors
What to Do
Confirm the child’s age before collecting any personal data.
Obtain written or verifiable consent from a parent or legal guardian.
Document and retain the consent record for at least 30 days.
Provide clear, age-appropriate privacy notices to both the child and parent.
Implement technical safeguards to prevent unauthorized data collection from minors.
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.