Personal Information Protection Commission Closes Applications for 'Pseudonymized Data Utilization Best Practices Competition'

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] The Personal Information Protection Commission, the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Financial Services Commission, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 28th that the registration for the ‘Pseudonymized Information Utilization Best Practices and Ideas Competition’ was officially closed on the 27th.

This competition is being promoted to discover excellent cases and ideas for the use of pseudonymized information following the amendment of the Data 3 Act, which established the legal basis for the use of pseudonymized information, to share the results with the public and to expand the safe use of pseudonymized information. The competition accepted entries in two categories: utilization cases and utilization ideas. A total of 17 cases and 45 ideas were submitted, resulting in a competition rate of 4.8 to 1. Despite being the first competition, it is progressing successfully.

Experts will review the submitted entries and select 13 teams (4 idea teams and 9 case teams) to advance to the finals scheduled for November 11. The selected works will be published on the website on the 22nd of next month to introduce them to the public. The website will also feature introductions of the finalists and conduct a public vote, which will be reflected in the final competition.

In the finals, awards will be given to a total of 13 works, including 5 grand prizes (Minister’s Award) and 8 excellence awards (Commissioner’s Award), based on expert evaluation (20%), public voting results (30%), and on-site evaluation (50%). A certain amount of prize money will also be awarded as a prize.

The finally selected best cases and ideas will be compiled and distributed as a collection of best practices for pseudonymized information utilization. For outstanding ideas, support will be provided for commercialization through consulting related to the use of pseudonymized information.

Park Sang-hee, Secretary General of the Personal Information Protection Commission, said, “With the amendment of the Data 3 Act, the use of pseudonymized information for safe data utilization in the data economy era is expanding. Especially as the pilot results of pseudonymized information linkage become visible, interest and demand for the use of pseudonymized information are beginning to activate.” He added, “The Personal Information Protection Commission will discover and widely promote creative best practices and ideas for pseudonymized information utilization, making the use of pseudonymized information a routine part of people’s daily lives.”