South Korea has suspended downloads of the Chinese AI app DeepSeek, pending an evaluation of its data privacy practices, authorities announced on Monday.
DeepSeek’s R1 chatbot recently gained attention for its advanced capabilities, competing with Western AI models at a significantly lower cost.
However, concerns over the app’s data storage practices have led to scrutiny in multiple countries.
The company stated that all user data is kept on “secure servers located in the People’s Republic of China.”
Seoul’s Personal Information Protection Commission confirmed that DeepSeek is no longer available for download while its data collection procedures undergo review.
According to the commission, DeepSeek acknowledged that its compliance with South Korea’s privacy laws was insufficient.
Authorities further noted that aligning the app with domestic regulations “would inevitably take a significant amount of time.”
“To prevent further concerns from spreading, the commission recommended that DeepSeek temporarily suspend its service while making the necessary improvements,” the agency stated. The company has since “accepted” this recommendation.
As of Saturday at 6:00 pm (0900 GMT), DeepSeek was removed from local app stores. Although new downloads are unavailable, users who previously installed the app can still access it.
The data protection agency has advised caution, strongly recommending that individuals “refrain from entering personal information into the DeepSeek input field” until the review is complete.
Cybersecurity expert, Youm Heung-youl, noted that DeepSeek has yet to implement a privacy policy specific to South Korea.
“It has on the other hand disclosed a privacy policy for the EU and certain other countries, stating that it complies with the domestic laws of those nations,” said Youm, a professor at Soonchunhyang University.
“DeepSeek needs to establish a privacy policy specific to Korea,” he added.
Several South Korean government bodies, including police and ministries, recently blocked access to DeepSeek on official devices.
The AI app has also faced restrictions elsewhere. Italy launched an investigation into DeepSeek’s R1 model and blocked it from handling Italian user data.
In Australia, security agencies recommended a ban on government devices, a measure that has been implemented.
Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers have proposed legislation to prohibit DeepSeek from government systems over concerns about data security.
In response to the mounting restrictions, Beijing has criticized what it calls the “politicisation of economic, trade and technological issues.”
The Chinese government maintains that it has never required businesses to “illegally collect or store data” and insists it will not do so.
DeepSeek’s future in South Korea remains uncertain as authorities continue their review.
