Cybersecurity Policy Report, South Korean Telecom Regulator to Address Illegal Location Tracking, (Apr 17, 2026)

By Tony Foley

The Korean Media and Communications Commission (KMCC) yesterday said it was launching an “intensive response” to eradicate illegal location tracking and raise awareness among technology users following recent cases in which trackers were used to commit crimes like stalking.

In a press release yesterday, KMCC said that, under the country’s Act on the Protection and Use of Location Information, prior consent must be obtained from an individual before their location information can be collected, used, or provided. Violations are subject to criminal penalties, including up to three years’ imprisonment and fines of up to 30 million won ($20,500).

KMCC noted that, despite these requirements and potential consequences, the need for a response had increased pursuant to the discovery of sales practices in which some GPS tracker sellers actively promote their products using claims such as “no personal information is stored” and “no risk of detection as no warning sounds are emitted,” which has encouraged the illegal act of secretly attaching GPS trackers. Accordingly, the agency said, the Committee on Trade and Information Relations has decided to consult with relevant agencies and take swift action to block the distribution of illegal GPS trackers.

Specifically, the committee plans to request major online shopping and trading platform operators, as well as the Korean Online Shopping Association, to strengthen self-regulation, and in cooperation with these parties, to promote measures like providing sellers with notices prohibiting legal violations and issuing advance warnings to raise buyer awareness.

“We plan to clearly inform approximately 3,200 location information and location-based service providers operating location-related businesses about the illegality of selling or promoting products that facilitate illegal location tracking, and to require management and inspections to prevent product sellers from aiding and abetting or facilitating illegal activities,” KMCC said. “Furthermore, we intend to respond strictly to businesses suspected of illegally collecting location information or conducting business activities without registration or notification for location information or location-based service businesses. This includes conducting fact-finding investigations and referring cases to investigative agencies if legal violations are discovered.”

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