Personal Information Protection Commission Imposes Fine on Businesses Refusing Personal Data Access Requests

Suncheon Jeil Hospital, Gmarket, Cuckoo Electronics
Refuse to Access Personal Information Without Justifiable Reason

On the 8th, the Personal Information Protection Commission decided to impose a total fine of 9 million KRW, publicize the case, and issue corrective orders to three businesses?Suncheon Jeil Hospital, Gmarket, and Cuckoo Electronics?for violating the Personal Information Protection Act.

After investigating incidents reported to the Korea Internet & Security Agency, the Commission confirmed that these businesses unjustifiably refused requests from data subjects to access their personal information.

Lee Jeong-eun, Head of Investigation Division 1 at the Personal Information Protection Commission, stated, “Businesses handling personal information should ensure that the methods for requesting access to personal data are not more difficult than the methods used to collect such data.” She added, “By sincerely responding to data subjects’ requests to access their personal information, citizens can effectively exercise their right to informational self-determination.”