Electronic Signature Legality in South Korea
South Korea's 2020 reform to the Digital Signature Act abolished the monopoly of accredited certificates, making general electronic signatures — like those created by SigPDF — valid for most commercial contracts. No uploads, no cloud storage.
No file uploadsValid in South KoreaNo account requiredFrom €2.08/month
Loading editor...
Legal Framework for Electronic Signatures in South Korea
South Korea underwent a significant shift in 2020 when the Digital Signature Act (전자서명법) was amended to adopt a technology-neutral approach. Previously, only government-accredited certificates had legal force. Now, general electronic signatures are recognized for most commercial purposes under the Framework Act on Electronic Documents and Transactions.
Key Legislation
- Framework Act on Electronic Documents and Transactions (전자문서 및 전자거래 기본법) — establishes validity of electronic documents
- Digital Signature Act (전자서명법, amended 2020) — technology-neutral recognition of electronic signatures
- Civil Act (민법) — freedom of form for contracts
- PIPA (개인정보 보호법) — personal information protection act
Documents signable with general electronic signatures in Korea
- Commercial service agreements and contracts
- Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs)
- Employment contracts (근로계약서, with electronic consent)
- Purchase orders and commercial invoices
- Freelance and consulting agreements
- Partnership and collaboration agreements
Documents requiring accredited signatures or special form
- Government and public institution submissions
- Court filings and legal proceedings
- Notarized documents (공증)
- Real estate registration documents
Frequently Asked Questions
Are electronic signatures legal in South Korea?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally recognized in South Korea under the Framework Act on Electronic Documents and Transactions (전자문서 및 전자거래 기본법) and the former Digital Signature Act (전자서명법), which was significantly amended in 2020 to adopt a technology-neutral approach and recognize a broader range of electronic signatures.
What changed with the 2020 amendment to Korea's Digital Signature Act?
Before 2020, the Digital Signature Act gave special status exclusively to electronic signatures backed by accredited certificates (공인인증서). The 2020 amendment abolished this monopoly and adopted a technology-neutral framework, allowing various types of electronic signatures — including simple electronic signatures like those created by SigPDF — to be legally valid for commercial contracts.
What types of electronic signatures are recognized in South Korea?
Following the 2020 reform, Korean law recognizes general electronic signatures (전자서명) and accredited electronic signatures (공인전자서명, now called 공동인증서). SigPDF creates general electronic signatures. For most private commercial contracts, this is fully sufficient. Accredited signatures are required for certain government transactions.
Is a SigPDF signature valid for South Korean business contracts?
Yes. For most commercial contracts — service agreements, NDAs, employment contracts, purchase orders — a general electronic signature from SigPDF is valid under the Framework Act and the 2020-amended Digital Signature Act, provided parties consent to electronic means. The 2020 reform significantly expanded acceptance of non-accredited signatures.
Which documents still require accredited signatures or special form in Korea?
Certain documents require accredited electronic signatures or specific forms: government and public institution submissions; court filings; documents requiring notarization (공증); real estate registration documents; and other acts regulated by specific legislation requiring a particular signature form.
Does SigPDF upload my documents to any server?
No. SigPDF processes your documents entirely in your browser. Your files never leave your device, which supports compliance with South Korea's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA, 개인정보 보호법) for documents containing personal data.
What is the difference between the old 공인인증서 and the new 공동인증서?
The 공인인증서 (accredited certificate) previously had a special legal status giving it exclusive legal force. After the 2020 reform, it was renamed 공동인증서 and lost its exclusive status — other electronic signature methods are now legally equivalent for most purposes. This is why SigPDF-created signatures became more broadly valid in Korea after 2020.