Since taking office last October, Song Kyung-hee, Chairperson of the Personal Information Protection Commission, has imposed fines on major personal data breach incidents involving companies such as Coupang and KT within just over 10 months. Evaluations suggest that she was able to hold corporations accountable through rigorous investigations despite the short time available to understand her duties because she is a "prepared ICT (information and communications technology) and AI expert."
is a former bureaucrat who held key positions for 30 years at the Ministry of Information and Communication, the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Cheong Wa Dae Office of the Economic Senior Secretary, and the National Policy Planning Committee. Her first job began in 1990 as part of POSCO's first cohort of female college graduates hired through general recruitment. In 1995, she passed the 39th Administrative Service Examination, shifting her career path to public service. She served as Chief of the Radio and Broadcasting Management Division and Chief of the Internet Policy Division at the Korea Communications Commission, and held major roles including Chief of the Convergence Technology Division, Director of Software Policy, and Director of AI-Based Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT (formerly the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning). She also served as Head of the Support Team for the Presidential Committee on the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Director of the Intellectual Property Strategy Planning Unit at the National Intellectual Property Rights Promotion Service, laying the foundation for national AI policy.
She further deepened her academic expertise by earning a Master's degree in Public Policy from Seoul National University, a Master's degree in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School, and a Ph.D. in Business Administration (Technology Management) from Yonsei University. While serving as Director of the Artificial Intelligence Reliability Center at Sungkyunkwan University's AI Convergence Institute, she also authored the book "AI Revolution." This year, was selected as a full member of the Korean Academy of Engineering in recognition of her expertise that bridges theory and practice.
Recently, has shifted policy direction toward a preventive personal data protection system rather than post-incident sanctions, urging investment in prevention and efforts to protect information. At the same time, she is driving meaningful changes and results that citizens can feel through innovation support prepared for the AX era.
[Biography]
△1966: Born in Gokheung, South Jeolla Province △Master's degree in Public Policy from Seoul National University △Master's degree in Public Administration from Harvard University △Ph.D. in Business Administration (Technology Management) from Yonsei University △Passed the 39th Administrative Service Examination △Chief of Radio and Broadcasting Management Division and Chief of Internet Policy Division at Korea Communications Commission △Chief of Convergence Technology Division and Director of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning △Administrative Officer in the Office of Industrial Policy under the Presidential Secretariat △Director of International Cooperation, Director of Software Policy, and Director of AI-Based Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT △Head of Support Team for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Committee △Director of Intellectual Property Strategy Planning Unit at the National Intellectual Property Rights Promotion Service △Planning Committee Member (Economy Division 2) and Head of AI Task Force at the National Policy Planning Committee △Director of Artificial Intelligence Reliability Center at Sungkyunkwan University's AI Convergence Institute △Current Chairperson of Personal
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