Contact Made by Improperly Using Petitioner’s Personal Information
Amid Allegations of Soraepogu Festival Meal Expenses Being Paid by Third Parties in Incheon
A senior official at a local government office who attempted to improperly use the personal information of a petitioner who had filed a request for information disclosure in order to persuade them has been referred to the prosecution.
According to the police on August 4, the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit of the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency recently booked, without detention, a senior official at Namdong District Office, identified as Mr. A, on suspicion of violating the Personal Information Protection Act and referred the case to the prosecution.
Mr. A is suspected of having improperly used personal information, such as the mobile phone number of Mr. B, a petitioner listed on an information disclosure request form, in December of last year.
It has been determined that Mr. A called and attempted to persuade Mr. B, who is active in an organization called NPO Jumminchamyeo and had requested the disclosure of accounting documents and other information related to the Soraepogu Festival for the years 2021 to 2024.
Mr. B had filed the information disclosure request after discovering circumstances suggesting that Namdong District had demanded hundreds of thousands of won in meal expenses from event agencies every year during the process of organizing the Soraepogu Festival. It is also reported that Mr. B was preparing to file a report with the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission.
During a phone call with Mr. B, Mr. A said, "I would like to meet you once," and at an in-person meeting, he reportedly said, "Please show some leniency regarding just Soraepogu."
Mr. B stated, "Mr. A claims that he contacted me after checking my phone number due to his duties as the person responsible for information disclosure, but that's just an excuse," and added, "The scope of the responsible person's duties is stipulated by relevant laws, but he went beyond that and improperly used my personal information for the purpose of persuasion."
Mr. B also said, "Due to Mr. A's attempt at persuasion, I felt threatened regarding the exposure of my personal information and my personal safety," and added, "I have also requested an audit from the Incheon City Inspector General's Office regarding Mr. A's violation of the duty to maintain dignity."
The police are also investigating allegations that Namdong District demanded meal expenses be paid on behalf of the district in connection with Mr. B's accusation.
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