Communication Data Requests Surge Under Yoon Administration: "Urgent Need for Investigative Agency Oversight"

Increase in Data Requests by NIS and Police
Sharp Decline to One-Twentieth Under Moon Administration, Now Rising Again

During the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, the number of communication data requests (provision of communication verification data) by investigative agencies has surged once again. After a significant decrease in such requests due to institutional reforms during the Moon Jae In administration, the numbers have rapidly increased in recent years, raising concerns that there are insufficient practical controls over access to information.

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According to data submitted by Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Wooyoung, a member of the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee, to the Ministry of Science and ICT, the number of communication data requests made by investigative agencies to telecom companies exceeded 500,000 cases each year from 2020 to 2024.

'Communication verification data' refers to objective information that records the act of communication itself (such as the numbers of parties involved in calls, start and end times of calls, base station locations, internet access records, etc.), rather than the content of the communication. Such data can be provided by telecommunications operators only with court approval and solely for criminal investigations or national security purposes.

During the Moon Jae In administration (2017-2021), controversy over the abuse of communication data requests led to reforms that reduced the number of requests. However, under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration (2022-2025), the trend has reversed and the numbers have begun to rise again.

Last year, the number of communication data requests by the National Intelligence Service more than tripled compared to the previous year. For the police, the number of requests increased from 167,979 in the first half of 2020 to 225,449 in the first half of 2024, an increase of about 60,000 cases. Approximately 80% of all requests were made by the police.

As of the second half of last year, the police submitted 133,000 request documents and sought information on 194,000 phone numbers. During the same period, the prosecution also requested information on more than 57,000 phone numbers. Both the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and the National Intelligence Service have also consistently obtained communication data.

The Ministry of Science and ICT explained, "It is difficult to disclose the status of data provision by each telecom company due to reasons such as national security and the need to maintain investigative confidentiality." Regarding the verification of legal requirements, the ministry added, "Telecommunications operators are carrying out such verification in a limited manner based on their own judgment."

In response, Assemblyman Kim Wooyoung stated, "Because communication data requests involve access to sensitive personal information of citizens, transparency and control mechanisms are essential." He emphasized, "The system should be improved to require disclosure of the reasons for requests by each investigative agency, the rate of court approvals, and the status of post-notification."