South KoreaI withdrew consent but the company is ignoring it.
In South Korea, withdrawing consent for personal data processing is legally binding, and companies must stop processing immediately upon withdrawal under the Personal Information Protection Act.
What the Law Says
South Korean law gives individuals strong rights to withdraw consent for personal data processing, and companies are required to comply without delay.
Under the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), consent for personal data processing must be freely given, specific, and informed. Once withdrawn, the data controller must immediately cease all processing based on that consent.
Article 39-2 of PIPA explicitly states that a data subject may withdraw consent at any time, and the personal information controller 'shall immediately discontinue the processing of personal information' upon such withdrawal.
Article 15(1) reinforces that consent must be obtained in a clear and distinguishable manner, and Article 15(3) confirms that withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of prior processing — but it does terminate future processing.
Statutory TextThe data subject may withdraw his or her consent at any time, and the personal information controller shall immediately discontinue the processing of personal information.
— Personal Information Protection Act, s. 39-2 — Right to Withdraw Consent
Statutory TextConsent shall be obtained in a clear and distinguishable manner… Consent may be withdrawn at any time.
— Personal Information Protection Act, s. 15 — Requirements for Consent
What to Do
Send a written withdrawal notice to the company (email or certified mail) citing Article 39-2 of the Personal Information Protection Act.
If ignored within 7 days, file a complaint with the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) via its online portal or call 183.
Request confirmation in writing that processing has ceased and ask for deletion of your data where applicable.
Keep records of all communications — these serve as evidence for enforcement or penalty proceedings.
Sources
Same Question, Other Jurisdictions
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JapanNot 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.