Conflict over Seohyeon Public Land District escalates due to personal information leak... Kim Eun-hye asks Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, "Is this retaliation?"

Rep. Lee So-young and Aide Reported for Alleged Personal Information Leak

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] The conflict between the government and local residents surrounding the Seohyeon Public Housing District in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do has escalated into a personal information leak issue. Allegations have arisen that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) unlawfully leaked the names and resident information of about 500 residents who filed a lawsuit. Kim Eun-hye, a member of the People Power Party, strongly criticized MOLIT, asking, "Is this a retaliatory measure?"

According to the National Assembly on the 20th, during the full meeting of the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee held on the 18th, Representative Kim pointed out the issue of personal information leakage by MOLIT.

Currently, MOLIT provided the personal information of 536 residents who filed a lawsuit to cancel the designation of the public housing district at Seohyeon 110, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, to Representative Lee So-young of the Democratic Party of Korea and her aide. It is alleged that the information was then published on the internet without filtering through a city council member from the relevant lawmaker’s constituency.

The residents have filed complaints against Representative Lee, her aide, a Gwacheon city council member, and former MOLIT Minister Byun Chang-heum for violations of the Personal Information Protection Act and the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection.

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Noh Hyung-wook stated, "It is true that we provided the data because there was a request from the lawmaker’s office," but added, "I do not know how it was distributed."

MOLIT provided the first trial ruling document of the lawsuit filed by the residents against MOLIT at the Seoul Administrative Court regarding the cancellation of the Seohyeon Public Housing District at the request of the lawmaker’s office. The ruling document reportedly contained a list with the names and addresses of 536 residents involved in the lawsuit. Subsequently, the material was posted on an internet homepage operated by a Democratic Party-affiliated Gwacheon city council member for about three months from February to last month.

In response, Representative Kim said, "There is no case where personal information-exposed materials are provided as is," and criticized, "Although MOLIT is the source of the information leak, they have only admitted to submitting the data and have not offered any satisfactory apology so far." She added, "Those whose information was leaked are expressing fear that their personal information was read, submitted, and disclosed to those who were in conflict due to the public housing district designation," and criticized, "Wouldn’t this be perceived as a retaliatory measure by the government against citizens opposing the district designation?"

Minister Noh said, "We requested the removal of the post immediately after recognizing the fact and are actively cooperating with the police investigation. Regardless of the circumstances, we are very sorry," and added, "We will thoroughly manage security measures related to personal information going forward."

However, when Minister Noh reiterated, "I want to clearly state the fact that MOLIT was not the one who posted (the information on the internet)," Representative Kim sharply responded, "Do not shift the blame elsewhere when MOLIT provided the original data as is."