Existing user? Sign in
Share your needs with us, get contacted by law firms.
Free. Takes 2 min.
This guide explains the key legal issues that affect online business operators, platform users, web service providers, and consumers in Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. E-commerce and internet law in Korea covers a mix of consumer protection rules, personal data protection, communications and network regulations, intellectual property, payment and financial rules, and criminal law for online wrongdoing. Many of the central statutory regimes apply nationwide - including the Act on Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce, the Personal Information Protection Act, and the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection - while local authorities and courts in Anyang implement and enforce these laws at the city and regional level.
If you operate an online store, marketplace, app, or other digital service in or targeting consumers in Anyang-si, you must follow national law and be aware of local enforcement practices, regulatory contacts, and dispute resolution options available in the Anyang area.
Legal questions in e-commerce and internet matters often involve technical facts, regulatory compliance, and both civil and criminal remedies. You should consider consulting a lawyer in these situations:
- Business setup and compliance - registering your business, required disclosures on websites, drafting terms and conditions and privacy policies that meet Korean statutory requirements.
- Personal data issues - designing data collection and retention practices, responding to data subject access requests, dealing with data breaches, and representing you in regulatory inquiries under the Personal Information Protection Act and related network laws.
- Consumer disputes - complicated refund or warranty disputes, class complaints, and defending against consumer protection claims under the Act on Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce.
- Intellectual property - takedown requests, copyright or trademark infringement claims against sellers or users, and origin-of-goods disputes on marketplaces.
- Platform liability and contracts - negotiating platform terms, determining liability allocation between marketplace and sellers, and handling platform-related sanctions or suspensions.
- Defamation and content removal - removing unlawful or defamatory posts, seeking injunctions, or defending against online defamation claims.
- Cybercrime and fraud - reporting and responding to hacking, payment fraud, phishing, or other criminal activity, and coordinating with police and forensic responders.
- Cross-border issues - selling to or buying from overseas customers, complying with foreign regulation, and collecting judgments across jurisdictions.
- Litigation and injunctions - filing or defending lawsuits, seeking urgent injunctive relief to stop infringement or abuse, and enforcing judgments.
This section summarizes the main legal topics you are likely to encounter in Anyang-si. These are national laws as enforced locally by courts, police, and administrative agencies.
- Consumer Protection - The Act on Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce, etc. requires online sellers to provide clear business information, return and refund policies, shipping terms, and post-contact channels. It establishes consumer rights for defective goods, non-delivery, and misleading advertising. Local consumer counseling centers and the Korea Consumer Agency handle mediation and complaints.
- Personal Data and Privacy - The Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection set out strict rules on collecting, processing, transferring, and storing personal data. Online businesses must obtain proper consent, publish privacy policies, implement security measures, and report breaches. The Personal Information Protection Commission and Korea Internet & Security Agency play roles in enforcement.
- Communications and Network Regulation - Service providers must comply with notice-and-takedown procedures, labeling requirements, and electronic advertising rules enforced by national regulators. Spam and unsolicited message rules are strictly regulated under the Network Act.
- Payment and Financial Rules - Payment processing, escrow, and electronic settlement are regulated. If you handle payments or issue benefits, you must comply with relevant financial and electronic payment regulations and cooperate with payment service providers on anti-fraud measures.
- Intellectual Property - Copyright and trademark law protect content and brands. Platforms and content hosts may face takedown obligations and liability exposure when infringing content is posted. Rights holders can seek injunctive relief and damages in local courts.
- Criminal Law - Cybercrime statutes cover hacking, identity theft, illegal wiretaps, and online fraud. The local police cyber investigation units handle investigations for crimes that occur in or affect Anyang-si residents or businesses.
- Local Administrative Procedures - Anyang-si municipal offices and local courts implement enforcement, licensing, and dispute resolution. Administrative penalties, fines, and corrective orders may be issued by supervisory agencies at the national or local level.
If you are operating a business from Anyang or targeting Korean consumers, you must comply with national business registration obligations. That includes registering your company for tax purposes and, where applicable, declaring an online business. Local municipal offices can advise on business registration and tax registration procedures. Speak with an accountant or lawyer for specific steps.
Under consumer protection law, online sellers must display clear business identification - company or owner name, business registration number, physical address, contact details, representative name, terms of service, refund and exchange policy, delivery policy, and dispute resolution procedures. Failing to display required information can lead to administrative fines and consumer complaints.
Follow PIPA and the Network Act - obtain informed consent for personal data collection, publish a transparent privacy policy, limit data retention to what is necessary, implement reasonable security measures, and establish procedures for handling access requests and breach notifications. If a data breach occurs, you may need to notify affected individuals and report to supervisory authorities. A privacy-focused lawyer or data protection officer can help design compliant processes.
Liability can depend on the marketplace model and contract terms. Marketplaces that act only as intermediaries may argue limited liability, but under Korean law and court practice, platforms can face takedown obligations, injunctive claims, and, in some cases, liability if they fail to act on notice. Platforms should maintain effective monitoring and takedown procedures and cooperate with rights holders.
You can request removal from the hosting platform under the Network Act or seek court-ordered takedowns and damages for defamation. For urgent cases, a lawyer can apply for provisional injunctive relief to remove content quickly. Keep evidence, document dates, and preserve screenshots and communications.
Consumers can file complaints with the seller, request refunds through payment channels, use platform dispute resolution, or seek mediation through consumer protection agencies. If those fail, consumers may bring civil claims in local court. Businesses should keep delivery and tracking records to defend against false claims.
Data breaches may trigger investigations by the Personal Information Protection Commission, Korea Internet & Security Agency, or other regulators. Sanctions can include fines, administrative orders, and criminal penalties in serious cases. Companies typically must conduct internal investigations, notify affected individuals when required, and implement corrective measures.
Yes, but foreign sellers targeting Korean consumers must comply with Korean laws that protect consumers and personal data. Cross-border sellers should consider local registration requirements, tax obligations, consumer protection rules, and logistics. International transactions also raise issues about applicable law and enforcement, so seek legal advice on cross-border contractual terms and dispute resolution.
Gather transaction records, communications with the buyer, proof of delivery, and your terms of sale. Contact your payment processor to understand their dispute process and timelines. If a pattern of fraud emerges, report it to the police and consider tightening payment verification procedures. A lawyer can advise on recovering funds and defending against wrongful chargebacks.
Look for lawyers with experience in internet law, data protection, consumer law, and technology contracts. Use the Korean Bar Association or local bar associations for referrals, check law firm profiles for relevant case experience, and request an initial consultation to discuss fees, strategy, and conflicts of interest. Local lawyers will be familiar with Anyang administrative contacts, local courts, and enforcement patterns.
Below are useful institutions and organizations that help with enforcement, mediation, and technical guidance. Contact these organizations to report issues, seek mediation, or get regulatory guidance in Korea and locally in Anyang-si.
- Anyang-si municipal office - for local business registration, municipal consumer affairs, and local administrative inquiries.
- Anyang consumer center or regional consumer counseling offices - for mediation of consumer disputes and guidance on consumer rights.
- Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) - national consumer protection agency providing mediation and information on e-commerce disputes.
- Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) - the national privacy regulator enforcing the Personal Information Protection Act.
- Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) - for cybersecurity advice, reporting hacks or phishing, and technical assistance after incidents.
- Fair Trade Commission (FTC) - enforces unfair trade practices and advertising rules that affect online commerce.
- Local police cyber investigation unit or regional cyber crime division - to report hacking, online fraud, or identity theft.
- Korean Bar Association and regional bar associations - lawyer referral services to find attorneys with e-commerce and internet law experience.
- Local courts, such as the Anyang branch of the competent district court - for filing civil claims, injunctions, and other litigation matters.
If you need legal assistance in Anyang-si for an e-commerce or internet matter, follow these practical steps:
1. Preserve evidence - Save copies of webpages, transaction records, chat logs, emails, payment receipts, order confirmations, screenshots, and any server logs that document the problem. Time-sensitive evidence is often critical.
2. Identify urgency - If there is ongoing fraud, a continuing data breach, threats, or live damage to reputation or business, prioritize immediate action and consider emergency relief through the police or provisional injunctions with a lawyer.
3. Use available mediation - For consumer disputes, try platform dispute resolution and local consumer mediation services as a quick, cost-effective first move. Document all communications.
4. Contact regulators when appropriate - Report data breaches to PIPC and KISA, and notify consumer protection bodies if the issue affects broader consumer rights. Regulators can provide guidance and may open investigations.
5. Consult a specialized lawyer - For contractual disputes, complex regulatory compliance, injunctive relief, or litigation, engage a lawyer who specializes in e-commerce, internet law, and data protection. Prepare a concise summary, a chronology of events, and copies of key documents for your first meeting.
6. Ask the right questions at your first consultation - Ask about the lawyer's specific experience with similar cases, likely strategies, costs and fee structure, expected timelines, potential outcomes, and whether mediation or litigation is recommended.
7. Plan for prevention - After resolving immediate issues, work with counsel to implement preventive measures - updated terms and privacy policies, data security improvements, staff training, dispute handling procedures, and insurance if relevant.
Legal matters in e-commerce and internet law can be technical and fast-moving. Getting timely, localized legal advice in Anyang-si will help you protect your business, your customers, and your personal rights. This guide provides a starting point - for tailored legal advice, contact a qualified lawyer or the relevant local authorities.
