Human Rights Commission: "Personal Information of Correctional Facility Inmates Must Not Be Exposed to Third Parties"

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) has urged measures to prevent the personal information of inmates in correctional facilities from being exposed to third parties.

On the 5th, the NHRCK announced that on the 19th, it recommended to the warden A of OO Prison to establish recurrence prevention measures, such as conducting job training related to personal information protection for staff, to prevent cases where inmates' personal information, including resident registration numbers, is exposed to third parties.

Petitioner B, an inmate of the said prison, filed a complaint with the NHRCK, claiming that personal information such as name and resident registration number was exposed to third parties. In November 2021, B received guidance from Warden A that the COVID-19 National Support Fund for inmates could be deposited as Onnuri gift certificates. Subsequently, Warden A required volunteers assisting correctional officers among inmates to sign confirmation of receiving the support fund, during which personal information was exposed.

The respondent, Warden A, stated, "At that time, the assistance of volunteers was indispensable to quickly distribute the support funds to many inmates," and added, "Rather than intentionally leaking inmates' personal information to volunteers, this occurred in the process of making efforts to protect inmates' rights to the maximum extent within the scope necessary for duties."

The NHRCK stated, "The head of a correctional facility may select volunteers recognized as exemplary inmates to assist correctional officers with administrative tasks and other duties," but added, "This should be limited to relatively simple tasks of correctional officers, and it is inappropriate to have volunteers handle tasks related to inmates' personal information self-determination rights and other human rights."

Furthermore, the NHRCK explained, "The support fund receipt confirmation form included inmates' names, resident registration numbers, and payment amounts, allowing volunteers at the time to know the personal information and payment amounts of multiple inmates, including the petitioner," and stated, "Neglecting safety measures for personal information infringed upon the petitioner's right to self-determination of personal information."