The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) has received a breach report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the leakage of personal information related to 'Air Force One' passengers. The PIPC is expected to take measures, including fact-checking, in the future.
According to the PIPC on Tuesday, the ministry reported the fact of the personal information breach to the PIPC that morning. The incident came to light after media reports revealed that an Excel file containing the personal information of 168 passengers aboard Air Force One, the presidential aircraft, including their △names, △dates of birth, and △passport numbers, had been posted on a paid website on the 2nd.
It is known that the list included high-ranking officials such as President Lee Jae Myung and First Lady Kim Hye Kyung, ministerial-level figures from the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wi Seong-hak, Director of the National Security Office, and Kim Yong-beom, then Policy Chief. It also included practical staff members belonging to the Presidential Secretariat and accredited reporters.
In a briefing on Tuesday, the ministry said, "As soon as we confirmed the breach in advance, we requested investigation and inquiry from relevant agencies," adding, "We are currently conducting an investigation to identify the cause of the leakage with the cooperation of relevant agencies, including the National Police Agency."
Under the Personal Information Protection Act, the PIPC can verify facts and conduct ex officio investigations when a breach report is received or when there are suspicions of legal violations. The PIPC plans to first proceed with verifying the facts.
in TECH
