Art. 11 of the "Act on the Prevention of Divulgence and Protection of Industrial Technology" provides that when a target institution holding national core technology developed with government research and development subsidies intends to export such technology to a foreign enterprise or any other external entity, whether through sale, transfer or another means, it must obtain prior approval from the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy. In reviewing an application for approval, the Minister may grant approval after assessing the potential effects of the export on national security, the national economy and other relevant interests, consulting with the head of the competent central governmental administrative authority, and obtaining deliberation by the Committee. Where a target institution holding and managing national core technology that is not subject to this approval requirement seeks to export such technology, it must submit a prior report to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy. Upon receiving this report, the Minister shall examine the likely impact of the proposed export on national security and any other pertinent factors, and shall accept the report if the export is deemed not to pose a serious risk to national security and to comply with the Act. The term national core technology refers to technology designated under Art. 9, the overseas divulgence of which could have a materially adverse effect on national security or on the development of the national economy, owing to its significant technological and economic value in domestic and international markets or its capacity to generate substantial growth in related industries.

Since 2008, the Foreign Trade Act has required a license prior to the export of strategic goods. These items include dual-use items. Among them, electronics (category 3), computers (category 4), telecommunications and information security (category 5), and sensors and lasers (category 6) are relevant to digital goods. These categories are controlled by the Ministry of Trade, Investment, and Energy.

On 28 February 2022, the South Korean Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF) introduced export bans on "strategic goods" to Russia. These strategic goods are classified into two categories: "dual-use" and "military use." Among the dual-use items are ICT goods such as machines and apparatus primarily used for the manufacture of semiconductor boules or wafers, semiconductor devices, and electronic integrated circuits. Other items included in the ban are telephone sets, including those for cellular networks or other wireless networks, among others.

The Electrical Appliances Safety Control Act authorises the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards to develop safety certification schemes for the import of electronic appliances. The agency has created three certification schemes: KC Safety Certification, KC Safety Confirmation, and SDoC.
The requirements are the following:
- Type 1 products must go through a certification procedure that includes factory inspection (initial and regular) with mandatory product testing every two years in order to get KC Certification. Type 1 products include electric wire, cords, switches for electrical appliances, motor-oriented electric tools, breakers, insulated transformers, and lighting appliances;
- Type 2 products, which are considered less dangerous, must overcome certification procedures that include safety testing without factory inspection. Type 2 products include electric switches, electric appliances, audio and video electronic apparatus, lighting appliances, insulated transformers, and information technology equipment;
- Type 3 products are qualified to be clear of mandatory certification procedures with a showing of SDoC. Except for products that qualify for SDoC, the other two methods, which include local testing, could be burdensome. Type 3 products include fluorescent lamp starters, DC power supplies, and electric chargers connected to the electric appliances, as well as some electric appliances, audio and video electronic apparatus, and information technology equipment.

The Personal Information Protection Act provides a comprehensive framework for data protection in Korea.

Per Art. 41 of the Enforcement Decree of Protection of Communications Secrets Act, telecoms or internet infrastructure operators should retain for 12 months the following:
- the date of the telecommunication, the commencement time and end time of the telecommunication, the communications number of outgoing and incoming calls, the frequency of use, and the location data for 12 months (six months in case of long-distance calls and local call services); and
- the log records of users and the location data for three months.
This requirement has been in place since the Act's enactment in 1994.

Under the Personal Information Protection Act, data controllers must appoint a privacy officer who comprehensively takes charge of personal information processing (Art. 31). The requirement has been in place since its enactment in 2011.

The Copyright Act, since its 2006 amendment, has established a safe harbour regime for intermediaries, exempting Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from liability for copyright infringement when acting as mere conduits, caching, hosting, or searching information (Art. 102). ISPs are also not liable for users' infringing acts if it is technically impossible for them to take preventive measures.

A basic legal framework on intermediary liability beyond copyright infringement is absent in Korea's law and jurisprudence.

Art. 12-3 of the Game Industry Promotion Act stipulates that a business entity engaged in the provision of game products, limited to persons who make such products accessible to the public through an information and communications network, is required to verify the real names and ages of users and to conduct self‑authentication procedures when users register as members.

It is reported that Korea imposes an identity requirement for SIM registration. Anyone wanting to purchase a SIM card has to provide their national ID card or a passport in case of foreigners to activate a new prepaid SIM card.

The amendment of the Telecommunications Business Act by Act No. 12761 on 15 October 2014 included Art. 22-3. According to Art. 22-3, value-added telecommunication service providers, encompassing all online hosts of applications and content, must implement technical measures as outlined in the Presidential Decree to counteract the dissemination of explicit materials.

It is reported that, in February 2025, Korea’s data protection authority blocked downloads of the application developed by the Chinese artificial intelligence firm DeepSeek. The application is said to have become accessible again two months later, following changes to the company’s privacy practices. It is also reported that, in February 2025, multiple Korean ministries blocked access to DeepSeek within their own organisations due to security concerns.

Under Art. 13 of the Act on the Promotion of Newspapers, a person who is not a national of Korea shall not be qualified as a publisher or editor of an online newspaper or as a news article layout manager of an online news service. This requirement has been in place since 2009.

Per Art. 5 of the Location Information Use and Protection Act, any person who intends to engage in location information business shall obtain permission from the Korea Communications Commission. According to Art. 18 of the Act, even if permitted to do such business, location information providers or location-based service providers cannot collect location information of individuals without individuals' consent. It is reported that, although a supplier may export location information once acquiring a permit, Korea has never approved such a permit despite numerous applications by foreign suppliers over the past decade.