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ISO and GRC certification consulting in South Korea
Achieve ISO and GRC certification in South Korea with Sterling: 8,100+ client engagements in 60+ countries, 20+ years.
- 22 standards, one team
- Accredited certification route
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Sectors that ask for certification in South Korea
Clients include
ISO and GRC certification in South Korea at a glance
Demand for certification and compliance work in South Korea comes from statute, national schemes and exporting customers together. The Personal Information Protection Commission supervises the Personal Information Protection Act, whose amended text took effect in September 2023, and the Network Act requires listed telecommunication, data-centre and large platform operators to hold national information security management system certification. The Food Sanitation Act obliges producers of designated foods to apply HACCP, the Medical Devices Act ties manufacturing permission to quality control systems, and the Serious Accidents Punishment Act puts safety and health management duties on business owners and responsible managing officers. The AI Basic Act has applied since January 2026. Management-system certificates come from certification bodies accredited by the Korea Accreditation Board, and laboratories are accredited by KOLAS; neither comes from Sterling. Demand is strongest among ICT and cloud providers, financial services, automotive parts and battery makers, semiconductor and electronics suppliers, pharma and medical devices, and food producers. Sterling's Tokyo office serves organisations across South Korea on-site where the work needs it and remotely otherwise, drawing on 8,100+ client engagements in 60+ countries and 20+ years, with Effivity and Sterling Academy included with the engagement.
ISO and GRC standards Sterling delivers in South Korea
Each page covers who needs the standard in South Korea, its requirements, how to get it, what sets the time and cost, and the local laws behind it.
Quality & operational excellence
Information security, cyber & cloud
Privacy & data protection
AI governance & digital trust
Environment, energy & climate
Health & safety
Governance, risk & resilience
Financial services, payments & AML
Food safety & agriculture
Healthcare, medical devices & life sciences
Laboratories, inspection & accreditation
Automotive, aerospace, rail & defence
Construction, energy, oil & gas
Regulators and laws that drive certification in South Korea (19)
| Law or regulator | What it asks for | Standards it cites |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC), established under the Prime Minister to independently perform business affairs relating to the protection of personal information | A personal information controller must state its purposes and collect only the minimum necessary, process lawfully (consent, a legal duty, performance of a contract and the other bases the Act lists), and take technical, managerial and physical safeguards, including an internal management plan and access records. It publishes a privacy policy, designates a privacy officer (the business owner or representative where the controller is below the thresholds set by decree) and supervises and educates staff. Entrusted processing needs a document stating prohibited uses and safeguards, and the controller educates and supervises the person entrusted. A controller with no address or place of business in Korea that meets the criteria of the Presidential Decree designates a domestic agent. Data subjects may ask for access, transmission, correction, erasure, suspension and, for fully automated decisions with a significant effect, an objection or explanation. On loss, theft or divulgence the controller notifies the data subjects without delay and reports to the Commission or a designated specialised institution. Cross-border transfer rests on separate consent, a statute or treaty, disclosed contractual necessity, a recipient certified as the Commission determines, or a destination the Commission recognises as substantially equal. The Commission may certify personal information protection (Article 32-2); privacy impact assessment is a duty of public institutions. | |
| Certification of personal information protection and ISMS-P Personal Information Protection Commission and Ministry of Science and ICT set policy and designate certification and examination bodies; the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) operates the scheme; the Financial Security Institute covers the financial area | The Act says the Commission may certify whether a controller's data processing and related protection actions follow the Act. The Commission describes ISMS-P as an integrated certification that combined the formerly separate PIMS and ISMS certifications, enforced since 7 November 2018, with a Certification Committee that deliberates on results. Obtaining it is not made a general duty on the Commission's page. | |
| EU adequacy recognition of the Republic of Korea European Commission (decision); Personal Information Protection Commission (Korean counterpart) | The Commission lists the Republic of Korea among the countries it has recognised, so transfers from the EU to the covered Korean recipients are treated as intra-EU transmissions of data. Counsel should confirm the scope of the decision for a given transfer. | |
| Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT); certification affairs performed by the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) or a designated institution Telecommunication business entities, major providers of information and communications services, data-centre operators and large platform businesses | Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection (Network Act), Article 47 — the Minister may certify information security management systems; the listed entities shall receive the certification; the Minister may omit part of the examination where the entity is certified for conformity with international standards for information protection. ISO/IEC 27001 is not named. | |
| Financial Services Commission (FSC) Financial companies and electronic financial business entities | Electronic Financial Transactions Act, Article 21-2 — every financial company or electronic financial business entity appoints a chief information security officer responsible for electronic financial business and the information technology security that underpins it, including preventing electronic financial transaction accidents. No ISO standard is named. | |
| Ministry of Employment and Labor Employers and business owners (workplace safety and health), including principals who contract out work | Occupational Safety and Health Act, Article 36 — a business owner identifies hazards and risk factors, evaluates whether risk is acceptable, acts on the result and keeps records, with employees participating; Serious Accidents Punishment Act, Article 4 — business owners and responsible managing officers establish and implement a safety and health management system with the people and budget needed, plan against recurrence and comply with improvement orders, with Article 5 extending this to contracted-out work. Neither Act names ISO 45001. | |
| Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) Businesses that manufacture, process, cook, subdivide or distribute foods designated by Prime Ministerial Decree | Food Sanitation Act, Article 48 — the Minister determines and publicly notifies HACCP standards for each food, designated businesses shall apply them, and the Minister may certify businesses as businesses adopting HACCP; certified businesses and their employees receive prescribed education and training. The Korea Agency for HACCP Accreditation and Services is established by statute to deliver safety management certification services for food and livestock products. | HACCP |
| Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) Medical device manufacturers | Medical Devices Act, Article 6 — manufacturing business permission from the Minister of Food and Drug Safety; applicants are equipped with the necessary facilities and manufacturing and quality control systems before applying, and submit data on those systems. ISO 13485 is not named in the text. | |
| Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy (as the Act names the authority) Energy users and energy suppliers, including excessive energy-consuming business entities | Energy Use Rationalization Act — Article 28-2 requires the Minister to encourage energy users and suppliers to introduce company-wide energy management systems and allows support for those who do; Article 31 requires excessive energy-consuming business entities to report energy consumption and rationalisation outcomes. ISO 50001 is not named. | |
| Competent authority designated under the Act (central administrative agency prescribed by Presidential Decree) Business entities eligible for allocation under the greenhouse-gas emissions trading system | Act on the Allocation and Trading of Greenhouse-Gas Emission Permits, Article 24 — an eligible entity reports the emissions actually produced in a compliance year in a measurable, reportable and verifiable manner, with detailed reporting and verification matters set by Presidential Decree. ISO 14001 and ISO 14064 are not named. | |
| Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC), which presents the Act within its anti-corruption prevention policy Suppliers to public institutions and others dealing with public servants | Improper Solicitation and Graft Act — its purpose is that public servants perform their duties fairly by prohibiting improper solicitations and the receipt of money, goods and similar benefits; Act on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, Article 4 — where a representative, agent or employee of a corporation commits the bribery offence in connection with its business, the corporation is also punished. Neither names ISO 37001 or ISO 37301. | |
| Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) AI business operators, including providers of generative AI and high-impact AI | Framework Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence and the Creation of a Foundation for Trust (AI Basic Act), in force since 22 January 2026 — Article 31 requires advance notice that a product or service runs on high-impact or generative AI, Article 32 requires risk identification, assessment and mitigation and a risk management system for AI systems above a compute threshold set by decree, Article 34 sets responsibilities for high-impact AI including risk management measures, and Article 35 asks operators to endeavour to assess impact on fundamental rights. ISO/IEC 42001 is not named. | |
| ENX Association (TISAX governance); audit providers approved by ENX; Information Security Assessment catalogue published by the VDA Automotive suppliers exchanging design data, prototypes and customer information | TISAX — assessed once, recognised by many: assessment against the ISA catalogue, results exchanged as TISAX labels through the ENX Portal; ENX states the scheme strengthens supply-chain resilience in Germany, Europe and worldwide. The VDA released ISA2027 on 1 July 2026. | TISAX |
| International Automotive Task Force (IATF), a group of automotive manufacturers and their trade associations Automotive manufacturers' supply chains | IATF 16949 — certification activity is conducted by certification bodies recognised by the IATF, which lists the bodies under contract; IATF Stakeholder Communiqué SC-2026-005 (July 2026) reports that a second edition of IATF 16949 is being prepared, with publication planned for mid-2027 and dates described as indicative. | IATF 16949 |
| Scheme owners IAQG and KAQG, as listed on the Korea Accreditation Board's site Aerospace quality management systems | AS 9100 / KS Q 9100 aerospace quality management system accreditation scheme — KAB lists IAQG/KAQG as scheme owners and shows the scheme among the accreditation schemes it offers. | AS9100 |
| Foundation for Food Safety Certification (FFSC), scheme owner as listed on the Korea Accreditation Board's site Food safety management system certification (FSSC 22000) | FSSC 22000 food safety management system accreditation scheme offered by KAB, with the scheme's own standard documents alongside ISO 22000. | FSSC 22000 |
| Payment card brands, through their own compliance programmes; the PCI Security Standards Council sets the standard Merchants and service providers that store, process or transmit cardholder data | PCI DSS — the Council's overview says compliance is enforced by the major payment card brands, each brand has its own compliance programme, and questions on compliance go to the acquiring financial institution. | PCI DSS |
| American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), which sets the attestation guidance used by CPA firms Service organisations whose customers ask for assurance on security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality or privacy | SOC 2 — an examination by a CPA of controls at a service organisation; the AICPA states that customers and business partners often request a SOC 2 report from the service organisation. | SOC 2 |
| Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (KOLAS), established by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) Calibration laboratories, testing laboratories and inspection bodies | KOLAS accredits calibration and testing laboratories on the basis of ISO/IEC 17025 and inspection bodies on the basis of ISO/IEC 17020, under the National Standards Act. | ISO/IEC 17025 |
Accreditation and recognition
- Korea Accreditation Board (KAB): Accreditation body for management-system and personnel certification bodies; its site lists schemes including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, ISO 45001, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO 13485, ISO 50001, ISO 22301, ISO 37001, ISO 39001, ISO 42001, AS 9100 / KS Q 9100, TL 9000, KS I 7001 and 7002, and ISO/IEC 17024 personnel certification.
- Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (KOLAS), run by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS): Accreditation body for calibration laboratories, testing laboratories, inspection bodies, reference material producers, medical testing laboratories, proficiency testing providers, product certification bodies, biobanks, and validation and verification bodies.
Look for a certification body whose accreditation scope covers your standard and sector, from a national accreditation body recognised under the international arrangements of Global ACI (Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated, formerly the IAF MLA). Sterling does not certify.
Tenders and procurement
- Korea ON-line E-Procurement System (KONEPS) (Public Procurement Service (PPS)): KONEPS is the single window for public procurement; bid information, including technical specifications and evaluation criteria, must by law be published there, and one registration lets a business take part in all bids. Each bid sets its own criteria, and the page does not list ISO certificates as a general requirement.
- Domestic procurement by the Public Procurement Service (Public Procurement Service (PPS)): Bidders register before bid opening, bids follow the invitation and bidding documents, and the award goes to the lowest qualified and responsible bidder conforming to the requirements in the bidding documents.
Economic zones
- Incheon Free Economic Zone: bio and healthcare, aviation, complex logistics, smart manufacturing
- Gyeonggi Free Economic Zone (Pyeongtaek): automobile, IT, machinery, chemicals, logistics
- Busan Jinhae Free Economic Zone: automobile parts, offshore plant parts, industrial machinery, port logistics, bio and health
- Gwangyang Bay Area Free Economic Zone: high-tech materials, functional chemicals, secondary cells, port logistics, bio
- Daegu Gyeongbuk Free Economic Zone: automobile and machinery parts, green energy, bio, medical devices, IT and software
- Ulsan Free Economic Zone: future mobility, bio, chemicals, new materials, hydrogen and low-carbon energy
- Gwangju Free Economic Zone: AI, automobile and eco-friendly vehicle parts, smart energy, next-generation batteries, biomedical and healthcare
Sterling in South Korea
Sterling delivers in South Korea from its Tokyo office: one team from scoping to certificate, with Effivity ISO & GRC software and Sterling Academy access included. Sterling does not certify; certification decisions stay with independent bodies.
What the standards require, clause by clause
Before you start in South Korea, read what each clause and subclause requires of you, how to implement it, the evidence auditors look for and the mistakes to avoid.
- ISO 9001:2026 requirements95 clause guides
- ISO/IEC 27001:2022 requirements143 clause guides
- ISO 14001:2026 requirements53 clause guides
- ISO 45001:2018 requirements60 clause guides
- ISO 22000:2018 requirements95 clause guides
- ISO/IEC 17025:2017 requirements68 clause guides
- ISO/IEC 42001:2023 requirements97 clause guides
Questions South Korean clients ask
Are certification audits in South Korea conducted in Korean or English?
The language is agreed with the certification body at application. Korean is the official language and the language of most public documents, while English is used in international business, so say which you want for the audit and for controlled documents and records. Follow any language requirement written into a customer contract, a regulator's request or a tender.
Which accreditation body should a management-system certification body in South Korea hold?
Look first for accreditation by the Korea Accreditation Board (KAB), which accredits certification bodies for schemes such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO 45001. KAB's own site shows which scopes sit within the international recognition arrangements, so check that the certificate's scope matches your standard and sector before you commit.
Who supervises the Personal Information Protection Act in South Korea?
The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) supervises it. The Commission sits under the Prime Minister and independently performs business affairs relating to the protection of personal information. It says the amended Act and its Enforcement Decree took effect on 15 September 2023, so privacy notices drafted earlier deserve a fresh read against the current text.
Which organisations must hold the national information security management system certification?
The Network Act requires certification for telecommunication business entities, registered major providers of information and communications services, data-centre operators, and businesses that meet the revenue, sector-sales or daily-user thresholds set by decree. The Act also lets the Minister omit part of the examination for entities certified to international information-protection standards. Ask the Ministry of Science and ICT or your counsel whether you are covered.
Is HACCP certification mandatory for food businesses in South Korea?
It depends on the food. Under the Food Sanitation Act, businesses that make, process, cook, subdivide or distribute foods designated by Prime Ministerial Decree must apply the HACCP standards the Minister of Food and Drug Safety notifies, and the Minister may certify them as businesses adopting HACCP. Check the decree list for your product with the Ministry.
Do public tenders in South Korea require ISO certificates?
Not as a general rule. Bid information, including technical specifications and evaluation criteria, is published on KONEPS, and each bid sets its own. The Public Procurement Service awards to the lowest qualified and responsible bidder conforming to the bidding documents, so read each notice's criteria before deciding which certificate is worth pursuing.
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Sources
- Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) — elaw.klri.re.kr; pipc.go.kr (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Certification of personal information protection and ISMS-P — elaw.klri.re.kr; pipc.go.kr (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- EU adequacy recognition of the Republic of Korea — commission.europa.eu (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection (Network Act), Article 47 — elaw.klri.re.kr (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Electronic Financial Transactions Act, Article 21-2 — elaw.klri.re.kr (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Occupational Safety and Health Act, Article 36 — elaw.klri.re.kr (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Food Sanitation Act, Article 48 — elaw.klri.re.kr (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Medical Devices Act, Article 6 — elaw.klri.re.kr (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Energy Use Rationalization Act — elaw.klri.re.kr (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Act on the Allocation and Trading of Greenhouse-Gas Emission Permits, Article 24 — elaw.klri.re.kr (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Improper Solicitation and Graft Act — elaw.klri.re.kr; acrc.go.kr (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Framework Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence and the Creation of a Foundation for Trust (AI Basic Act), in force since 22 January 2026 — elaw.klri.re.kr (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- TISAX — enx.com (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- IATF 16949 — iatfglobaloversight.org (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- AS 9100 / KS Q 9100 aerospace quality management system accreditation scheme — kab.or.kr; eng.kab.or.kr (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- FSSC 22000 food safety management system accreditation scheme offered by KAB, with the scheme's own standard documents alongside ISO 22000. — kab.or.kr; eng.kab.or.kr (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- PCI DSS — listings.pcisecuritystandards.org (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- SOC 2 — aicpa-cima.com (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- KOLAS accredits calibration and testing laboratories on the basis of ISO/IEC 17025 and inspection bodies on the basis of ISO/IEC 17020, under the National Standards Act. — kats.go.kr (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Korea Accreditation Board (KAB) — kab.or.kr; eng.kab.or.kr (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (KOLAS), run by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) — kats.go.kr; knab.go.kr; ilac.org (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Korea ON-line E-Procurement System (KONEPS) — pps.go.kr (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Domestic procurement by the Public Procurement Service — pps.go.kr (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Incheon Free Economic Zone — investkorea.org (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Gyeonggi Free Economic Zone (Pyeongtaek) — investkorea.org (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Busan Jinhae Free Economic Zone — investkorea.org (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Gwangyang Bay Area Free Economic Zone — investkorea.org (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Daegu Gyeongbuk Free Economic Zone — investkorea.org (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Ulsan Free Economic Zone — investkorea.org (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Gwangju Free Economic Zone — investkorea.org (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
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