The terms used in this Act are defined as follows:

1. The term "personal information" means any of the following information relating to a living individual:
   • (a) Information that identifies a particular individual by his or her full name, resident registration number, pictures, etc.;
   • (b) Information which, even if it by itself does not uniquely identify an individual, may be easily combined with other information to uniquely identify an individual. In such cases, whether or not there is ease of combination shall be determined by reasonably considering the time, cost, technology, etc. used to identify the individual such as likelihood that the other information can be procured;
   • (c) Information under items (a) or (b) above that is pseudonymized in accordance with subparagraph 1-2 below and thereby becomes incapable of uniquely identifying an individual without the use or combination of information for restoration to the original state (hereinafter referred to as “pseudonymized information”);
   1-2. The term “pseudonymization” means a procedure to process personal information so that the information cannot uniquely identify an individual without additional information, by erasing in part, or replacing in whole or in part, such information;
2. The term “processing” means the collection, generation, connecting, interlocking, recording, storage, retention, value-added processing, editing, searching, output, correction, recovery, use, provision, disclosure, and destruction of personal information and other similar activities;
3. The term “data subject” means an individual who is identifiable through the information processed and is the subject of that information;
4. The term “personal information file” means a set or sets of personal information arranged or organized in a systematic manner based on a certain rule for easy search of the personal information;
5. The term “personal information controller” means a public institution, legal person, organization, individual, etc. that processes personal information directly or indirectly to operate the personal information files as part of its work;
6. The term "public institution" means any of the following institutions:
   • (a) The administrative bodies of the National Assembly, the Courts, the Constitutional Court, and the National Election Commission; the central administrative agencies (including agencies under the Presidential Office and the Prime Minister’s Office) and their affiliated entities; and local governments;
   • (b) Other national agencies and public entities prescribed by Presidential Decree;
7. The term "fixed visual data processing device" means a device prescribed by Presidential Decree, which is installed at a certain place to continuously or regularly takes pictures of persons or things, etc. or transmits such pictures via a wired or wireless network;
   
   7-2. The term "mobile visual data processing device" means a device prescribed by Presidential Decree, which a person can wear or carry or which can be attached to or mounted on a movable object to take pictures of persons or things, etc. or to transmit such pictures through a wired or wireless network;
8. The term “scientific research” means research that applies scientific methods, such as technological development and demonstration, fundamental research, applied research and privately funded research.