Privacy Policy

Welcome to MyTOPIK. At MyTOPIK, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring transparency about how we collect, use, store, and share your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains our data practices when you use our mobile applications (iOS and Android), website, and related services (collectively, the "Service").

By accessing or using MyTOPIK, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our practices, please do not use our Service.

This Privacy Policy applies to all users of MyTOPIK, including individual learners, students enrolled through educational institutions, and users accessing our B2B platform services.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information in several ways: directly from you, automatically when you use our Service, and from third parties. The types of information we collect depend on how you interact with MyTOPIK.

1.1 Account Information

When you create a MyTOPIK account, we collect:

• Email address: Used for account identification, login, and communication
• Password: Securely hashed using industry-standard encryption algorithms; we never store passwords in plain text
• Social login credentials: If you choose to sign in with Apple or Google, we receive your name and email address from these services
• Display name/nickname: Your chosen username visible to other users and on leaderboards
• Profile picture: Optional; may be uploaded or imported from social login providers

1.2 Profile and Survey Data

To personalize your learning experience, we may collect:

• Age range: To provide age-appropriate content and comply with children's privacy regulations
• Country/region: To customize content and comply with regional regulations
• Occupation: To understand your learning context (student, professional, etc.)
• Current Korean proficiency level: To recommend appropriate difficulty levels
• Learning goals: Why you are learning Korean (TOPIK exam, career, immigration, etc.)
• Target TOPIK level: Your desired exam achievement level
• Daily study goal: Minutes per day you plan to study
• Discovery source: How you found MyTOPIK (for analytics purposes)

1.3 Learning Activity Data

We collect detailed data about your learning activities to provide personalized recommendations and track your progress:

• Test attempts and results: Your answers to mock TOPIK exams, quizzes, and practice exercises
• Writing submissions: Your written responses to TOPIK writing tasks and AI-graded exercises
• Scores and performance metrics: Accuracy rates, speed, and improvement trends
• Time spent: Duration of study sessions, time per question, and total learning time
• Streaks and achievements: Daily activity streaks, badges earned, and milestones reached
• Vocabulary progress: Words learned, reviewed, and mastered
• Grammar completion: Grammar points studied and exercise performance
• Listening comprehension data: Audio playback patterns and answer accuracy
• Skill assessments: Diagnostic test results and predicted TOPIK scores

1.4 Content Engagement Data

We track how you interact with educational content:

• Video/Reel viewing history: Which content you watch and how often
• Watch duration: How long you spend on each video or lesson
• Completion status: Whether you finish content or abandon it
• Likes and saves: Content you mark as favorites or like
• Content preferences: Preferred difficulty levels, topics, and content types
• Search queries: What you search for within the app

1.5 Device and Technical Information

We automatically collect technical information when you use our Service:

• Device information: Device type, model, manufacturer, and unique device identifiers
• Operating system: OS type and version (iOS, Android, web browser)
• App version: Which version of MyTOPIK you are using
• IP address: Used for security, analytics, and approximate location
• Browser type: For web users, your browser type and version
• Time zone and language settings: To localize content and notifications
• Crash reports: Technical logs when the app encounters errors
• Usage patterns: Features used, buttons clicked, screens viewed, and navigation paths

1.6 Payment Information

If you subscribe to premium features:

• Transaction records: Purchase history, subscription status, and renewal dates
• Payment method type: Whether you paid via Apple App Store or Google Play Store
• Note: We do not store credit card numbers or full payment details; these are handled securely by Apple and Google

1.7 Communication Data

When you contact us or we contact you:

• Support inquiries: Messages you send to our support team
• Feedback and suggestions: Ideas and feature requests you submit
• Bug reports: Technical issues you report
• Push notification interactions: Whether you open and engage with notifications

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information for the following purposes:

2.1 Providing and Improving the Service

• Create and manage your account
• Deliver personalized learning content and recommendations
• Track your progress and display achievements
• Enable features like streaks, leaderboards, and challenges
• Process subscriptions and premium feature access
• Provide customer support and respond to inquiries
• Fix bugs, improve stability, and enhance performance
• Develop new features and educational content

2.2 Personalization and Analytics

• Analyze your learning patterns to identify strengths and weaknesses
• Predict your potential TOPIK exam score based on performance data
• Recommend content tailored to your skill level and goals
• Optimize spaced repetition schedules for vocabulary retention
• Generate personalized study plans and daily goals
• Provide AI-powered feedback on writing exercises
• Understand aggregate usage trends to improve the platform

2.3 Communication

• Send study reminders and streak notifications
• Notify you about achievements and milestones
• Share important service updates and announcements
• Respond to your support requests and feedback
• Send promotional communications (with your consent, where required)

2.4 Safety and Security

• Verify your identity and prevent unauthorized access
• Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and violations of our terms
• Maintain the security and integrity of our Service
• Comply with legal obligations and respond to lawful requests

2.5 Research and Development

• Conduct research on language learning effectiveness
• Analyze aggregate trends in Korean language education
• Develop and improve educational methodologies
• Create anonymized datasets for academic research partnerships

4. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

4.1 Service Providers

We work with trusted third-party companies who assist us in operating our Service:

• Cloud hosting providers: To store and process your data securely
• Analytics services: To understand usage patterns and improve the Service (e.g., Google Analytics, Firebase)
• Customer support tools: To help us respond to your inquiries
• Push notification services: To deliver app notifications
• AI service providers: To power AI features like writing feedback

4.2 Educational Institutions (B2B Partners)

If you are enrolled through a school, academy, or educational institution:

• Your learning progress, scores, and performance data may be shared with your institution
• Instructors and administrators may view dashboards showing your activity
• Aggregate class/cohort performance data helps institutions improve their programs
• We share only the data necessary for educational purposes

4.3 Research Partners

We may share anonymized, aggregated data with:

• Academic researchers studying language learning
• Educational organizations developing teaching methodologies
• Partners conducting studies on Korean language education
• This data cannot be used to identify individual users

4.4 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law or if we believe it is necessary to:

• Comply with legal obligations, court orders, or government requests
• Protect the rights, property, or safety of MyTOPIK, our users, or others
• Enforce our Terms of Use and other agreements
• Investigate potential violations or fraudulent activity

4.5 Business Transfers

If MyTOPIK is involved in a merger, acquisition, bankruptcy, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the successor entity. We will notify you of any such change and any choices you may have regarding your information.

5. Data Storage and Security

5.1 Where We Store Your Data

Your data is stored on secure servers provided by reputable cloud hosting providers. Our primary data centers are located in regions that provide fast, reliable access for our global user base.

5.2 Security Measures

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data:

• Encryption in transit: All data transmitted between your device and our servers is encrypted using TLS/SSL
• Encryption at rest: Sensitive data is encrypted when stored on our servers
• Password security: Passwords are hashed using secure, one-way algorithms (never stored in plain text)
• Access controls: Employee access to user data is restricted and logged
• Regular audits: We conduct security assessments and vulnerability testing
• Secure development: We follow secure coding practices and review code for vulnerabilities

5.3 Your Security Responsibilities

While we work hard to protect your data, security is a shared responsibility. We encourage you to:

• Use a strong, unique password for your MyTOPIK account
• Keep your login credentials confidential
• Log out of your account when using shared devices
• Keep your device and app updated with the latest security patches
• Contact us immediately if you suspect unauthorized account access

Note: No method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

6.1 Active Accounts

We retain your personal data for as long as your account remains active and as needed to provide you with our services. Your learning history, progress, and achievements are maintained to ensure continuity of your educational experience.

6.2 After Account Deletion

When you delete your account:

• Your personal identifiers (email, name) are deleted within 30 days
• Your learning data may be retained in anonymized form for analytics and AI improvement
• Some data may be retained as required by law or for legitimate business purposes
• Backup copies may persist for a limited period before automatic deletion

6.3 Legal Retention Requirements

We may retain certain information for longer periods if required by applicable law, such as transaction records for tax purposes or data needed for ongoing legal proceedings.

7. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information:

7.1 Access and Portability

• Request access to the personal data we hold about you
• Receive a copy of your data in a structured, commonly used format
• Export your learning progress and achievement data

7.2 Correction and Update

• Update your account information directly in the app settings
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data

7.3 Deletion

• Delete your account through the app settings
• Request deletion of specific personal data
• Note: Some data may be retained in anonymized form or as required by law

7.4 Marketing Opt-Out

• Opt out of promotional emails using the unsubscribe link in any marketing email
• Manage push notification preferences in your device settings or app settings
• Note: You may still receive transactional communications about your account

7.5 Regional Rights

If you are located in certain jurisdictions (such as the EU/EEA, UK, or California), you may have additional rights:

• GDPR (EU/EEA): Rights to restriction of processing, objection to processing, and lodge complaints with supervisory authorities
• CCPA (California): Right to know what personal information is collected, right to delete, and right to opt-out of sale (we do not sell personal information)
• Other regions: Additional rights may apply based on local privacy laws

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the "Contact Us" section below. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.

8. Third-Party Services and Links

8.1 Integrated Services

MyTOPIK integrates with the following third-party services:

• Apple (Sign in with Apple, App Store): For authentication and payment processing on iOS
• Google (Google Sign-In, Play Store, Firebase, Analytics): For authentication, payment processing, analytics, and push notifications on Android
• AI service providers: For natural language processing and content generation features
• Cloud infrastructure providers: For hosting and data storage

8.2 External Links

Our Service may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

9. Children's Privacy

9.1 Age Restrictions

MyTOPIK is not intended for children under the age of 13 (or the applicable age of digital consent in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under this age.

9.2 Parental Consent

Users between 13 and 18 years old (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction) should have their parent or guardian review this Privacy Policy and, where required, provide consent before using MyTOPIK.

9.3 Reporting Underage Users

If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately at the email below. We will take steps to delete such information promptly.

10. International Data Transfers

MyTOPIK operates globally, and your information may be transferred to, stored in, and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have different data protection laws than your own.

By using MyTOPIK, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries outside your residence, including countries that may not provide the same level of data protection as your home country.

When we transfer data internationally, we implement appropriate safeguards to protect your information, such as standard contractual clauses approved by relevant authorities.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, legal requirements, or other factors.

When we make material changes, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Notify you through the app or by email (for significant changes)
• Provide a summary of key changes where appropriate

Your continued use of MyTOPIK after any changes indicates your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

We aim to respond to all privacy-related inquiries within 30 days.