Personal Information Protection Commission Plenary Meeting Photo by Personal Information Protection Commission
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The Personal Information Protection Commission will be launched as a ministerial-level central administrative agency dedicated to personal information protection policies on the 5th of next month. It will be promoted to an agency under the Prime Minister that integrates and performs personal information protection functions in both the public and private sectors, which had been dispersed among the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Korea Communications Commission, and the Personal Information Protection Commission.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that the "Personal Information Protection Commission Organization Act," which stipulates the subordinate organization of the Personal Information Protection Commission, was approved at the Cabinet meeting on the 28th. According to the organization act, the commission will have one office and four bureaus, including the Secretariat, Spokesperson, Planning and Coordination Officer, Personal Information Policy Bureau, and Investigation and Coordination Bureau, with a total of 14 divisions. The authorized personnel is 154.
The Personal Information Policy Bureau is an organization that integrates the personal information protection policy and legislative management functions of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Korea Communications Commission. It is responsible for establishing, overseeing, and coordinating personal information protection policies, formulating basic personal information protection plans, policies related to new technology convergence such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, pseudonymization policies, and promoting and supporting the self-regulation of personal information processors.
The investigation and evaluation of personal information infringement and dispute mediation functions of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Korea Communications Commission have been integrated into the Investigation and Coordination Bureau. This bureau is responsible for inspecting the status of personal information protection, conducting infringement investigations, monitoring and managing personal information infringement situations, administrative actions such as imposing fines and penalties, evaluating personal information infringement factors in laws and regulations, and supporting the Secretariat of the Personal Information Dispute Mediation Committee.
The Planning and Coordination Officer, Spokesperson, and Operations Support Division have also been newly established. As the Personal Information Protection Commission is elevated to a ministerial-level agency with independent authority over organization, personnel, and budget operations, it will perform administrative tasks necessary for agency operations such as planning, budgeting, public relations, and personnel management.
From August 5th, with the enforcement of the Data 3 Laws (Personal Information Protection Act, Credit Information Act, and Information and Communications Network Act), the commission will also oversee personal information protection-related policies. Minister of the Interior and Safety Jin Young said, "With the establishment of this organization act, the commission has laid the foundation to function as an integrated supervisory body for personal information protection," adding, "We hope this will be an opportunity for the harmonious development of personal information protection and utilization."
Lee Sung-yeop, President of the Korea Data Law Policy Association (Professor at Korea University Graduate School of Technology Management), emphasized, "The Personal Information Protection Commission must balance data utilization and protection to advance toward an intelligent information society through the safe use of data," and added, "It is necessary to engage in broad exchanges and communication not only with those emphasizing personal information protection but also with companies and related organizations considering data utilization."
He also proposed measures to enhance the efficiency of the Personal Information Protection Commission’s work, including ▲establishing a specialized committee responsible for authoritative interpretation of laws to ensure predictability for companies ▲strengthening international cooperation such as the European Union (EU) adequacy assessment ▲securing adversarial functions to guarantee sufficient defense rights for respondents in investigations and sanctions ▲and responding to new issues such as digital trade.
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