DeepSeek Returns to South Korea After Data Privacy Scandal Forced Ban

DeepSeek has returned to South Korea’s digital marketplace after a two-month ban. The Chinese AI app was removed in February 2025 when authorities discovered it had transferred 1.5 million Korean users’ data to China without consent. Following an investigation by South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission, DeepSeek implemented a revised privacy policy on April 10. The app became available again on April 28, though some privacy advocates remain skeptical about the company’s practices.

Several months after being banned for privacy violations, Chinese AI company DeepSeek has resumed operations in South Korea. The company’s app became available again on April 28, 2025, following a two-month suspension from major platforms including Google Play and Apple’s App Store.

DeepSeek faced serious allegations when it launched in South Korea in January 2025. The company was accused of sending Korean user data and AI prompts to China and the United States without proper consent. South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) found that about 1.5 million Korean users had their information transferred overseas illegally.

Korean authorities uncovered that DeepSeek illegally transferred 1.5 million users’ data overseas without consent.

The investigation revealed DeepSeek shared data with Beijing Volcano Engine Technology, a third-party company. The transferred information included personal data, user-entered prompts, device details, and app usage patterns. Users weren’t informed about these overseas transfers when they happened.

After public complaints and privacy concerns emerged, South Korean authorities took quick action. The PIPC launched a formal investigation in February 2025, leading to the app’s removal from digital stores to protect users during the inquiry. The incident sparked calls for stricter data privacy regulations across the industry.

In response to the ban, DeepSeek claimed the data transfers were meant to improve user experience. The company announced it stopped the unapproved practice on April 10, 2025. They’ve since updated their privacy policy to comply with Korean data protection laws. This occurred amid DeepSeek’s rapid market growth, with the app having previously topped Apple’s App Store in the U.S. earlier in January 2025.

The revised policy now gives users clear options to refuse data transfers to companies in China and the US. These changes helped DeepSeek meet the data protection agency’s requirements, allowing its return to the Korean market.

Despite the app’s comeback, some users and privacy advocates remain cautious. The incident has raised important questions about AI ethics, data security, and regulatory oversight globally.

Korean authorities have promised stricter monitoring of cross-border data transfers by foreign AI services going forward. While DeepSeek has addressed the immediate concerns, rebuilding trust with Korean users may take time.