No. Sharing passwords in South Korea is illegal under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection (Network Act) and the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) enforces strict penalties, including fines up to ₩50 million (~$37,000) for violations, with potential criminal liability under the Criminal Act for unauthorized access.
Key Regulations for Sharing Passwords in South Korea
- Network Act (Article 44-7): Prohibits sharing or disclosing login credentials for online services, including social media, banking, and cloud platforms. Violations trigger administrative fines and potential service suspension.
- Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) (Article 23): Classifies shared passwords as unauthorized access to personal data, risking civil damages and regulatory audits by the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC).
- Criminal Act (Article 323): Criminalizes unauthorized system access via shared credentials, punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment or ₩50 million in fines, as seen in recent 2024–2026 enforcement trends.
Corporate entities face additional scrutiny under the Enforcement Decree of the Network Act, which mandates internal compliance programs for password management. The KCC’s 2025 guidelines emphasize zero-tolerance policies, particularly for fintech and government-linked services. Exceptions exist only for legally mandated data sharing, such as court orders or corporate audits, requiring prior approval.