The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) said it decided to suspend the service here since last Saturday, after a probe raised concerns over the app's compliance with data protection regulations.
The suspension applies to Apple's App Store and Google Play, though existing users can continue using the app. But the PIPC recommended that users "avoid entering personal information" into the app.
The latest suspension follows an earlier ban on the app by South Korean firms and government agencies.
PIPC launched its probe in late last month amid concerns about DeepSeek's excessive data collection. The probe revealed that the app lacked transparency in third-party data sharing and collected excessive amounts of personal information.
DeepSeek reportedly admitted its shortcomings, saying, "We had not fully been aware of South Korea's data protection regulations and pledge to cooperate with authorities."
PIPC plans to thoroughly review DeepSeek's data handling practices during the suspension period and come up with new guidelines for foreign AI developers seeking to operate in South Korea.
Meanwhile, a wide range of topics including regulations related to AI-assisted chatbots, will be discussed at the upcoming Global Privacy Assembly (GPA), a global forum scheduled for September in Seoul, offering insights on data protection and privacy.
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