Personal Information Protection Commission, "Moves to Specify Criteria for Penalty Calculation"

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] Following the submission of the Personal Information Protection Act amendment bill to the National Assembly on September 30, which raises the penalty imposition standard for violations of the Personal Information Protection Act to "3% of total sales" in line with international standards, the Personal Information Protection Commission has officially begun preparing subordinate regulations such as enforcement ordinances that will specify detailed penalty calculation standards and procedures.

On the 3rd, the Personal Information Protection Commission announced that it formed the "Penalty Imposition Standards Research Group (Chairman: Professor Hong Dae-sik of Sogang University)" composed of personnel recommended by industry and civil society as well as legal experts, and held its first meeting.

At the meeting, legislative examples regarding penalty calculation standards and procedures both domestically and internationally, including the Enforcement Decree of the Credit Information Act, were shared. Discussions were held on ways to enhance the "proportionality corresponding to the violation" and the "effectiveness in preventing infringement" of penalties based on total sales standards. The research group plans to present basic directions for penalty calculation standards and procedures by collecting opinions from industry and civil society in the future.

Song Sang-hoon, Director of the Investigation and Coordination Bureau of the Personal Information Protection Commission, stated, "The Commission plans to prepare a draft amendment to the enforcement ordinance reflecting the opinions presented by the research group," adding, "We will establish reasonable penalty calculation standards that effectively deter violations while corresponding to the scope of business operators' responsibilities so that companies can fulfill their responsibilities as personal information processors."