Personal Information Commission, 106 Sanctions in First Year Since Launch...Cumulative Fines Total 6.97 Billion Won

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] The Personal Information Protection Commission, which is approaching its first anniversary next month, has imposed a total of 106 sanctions over the past year for insufficient safety measures and violations of personal information collection.

On the 28th, the Personal Information Protection Commission analyzed the results of deliberations and resolutions on sanctions since its establishment and announced future investigation directions. Since its launch on August 5 last year, a total of 106 deliberations and resolutions have resulted in 12 fines, 46 penalties, and 42 corrective orders and recommendations. The total amount of fines was 6.97 billion KRW, and penalties amounted to 410 million KRW.

The most common violation was insufficient safety measures, accounting for 44% (56 cases). This was followed by violations related to personal information collection, use, and provision (18%), and violations of consignment and subcontract management (11%).

By violation target, the sanction ratio was 36% for public institutions and 64% for the private sector. Examining the violation details, all violations in the public sector were related to breaches of safety measure obligations. In the private sector, sanctions were imposed for various violations including safety measure breaches and collection, use, or provision of personal information without consent or legal grounds.

Based on this analysis, the Personal Information Protection Commission also disclosed future investigation directions. First, for public institutions, a campaign will be conducted to eradicate and prevent recurrence of repeatedly occurring violations such as failure to retain access records and unauthorized account sharing. For the private sector, focused inspections and continuous system improvements will be pursued regarding personal information infringements that are closely related to citizens' daily lives and frequently occur.

Song Sang-hoon, Director of the Investigation and Coordination Bureau at the Personal Information Protection Commission, stated, “The Commission will continue to promptly initiate investigations when personal information infringements occur and actively promote system improvements to minimize damage to the public.” He added, “Violations detected in government agencies and local governments will also be subject to fines and penalties under the same standards as private institutions.”