Song Kyunghee, Chairperson of the Personal Information Protection Commission: "We Will Establish a Proactive System to Prevent Personal Information Leaks"

"Efforts to Prevent Data Leaks Will Be Reflected in Fines"

Song Kyunghee, Chairperson of the Personal Information Protection Commission, stated on the 20th, "We are considering a shift to a system that identifies the causes of recurring personal information leaks and focuses on prevention."

Meeting with reporters in the press room of the Personal Information Protection Commission in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the same day, Chairperson Song said, "When a personal information leak occurs, the probability of it leading to actual damage is not very high," but emphasized, "If we can transition to a preventive system, the public can feel more at ease, and it will also be more efficient in terms of cost."

Song Kyunghee, Chairperson of the Personal Information Protection Commission, is speaking with reporters in the press room in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 20th. Photo by Personal Information Protection Commission

She added, "In the initial phase, we will focus our efforts on enhancing our own systems and expertise while establishing an organizational structure," and continued, "We are also considering setting up a system that allows for the international sharing of personal information management frameworks for domestic users whose data is transferred abroad through overseas service providers."

Regarding recent discussions by the task force for institutional improvement to prevent personal information leaks, which include measures to strengthen the effectiveness of sanctions such as fines, Chairperson Song said, "When it comes to fines, it is necessary to refine the criteria, such as whether sufficient preventive efforts were made in advance to prevent leaks," and added, "Since it is impossible to prevent hacking or personal information leaks 100 percent, we will take into account the extent to which maximum efforts were made to prevent such incidents."

As for the most urgent area for improvement within the commission, she pointed to the issue of personnel. Chairperson Song commented, "As digitalization progresses, both the quantity and types of personal information that need protection have increased," adding, "This is the third year since the commission was established, and we are striving with a team of around 30 people. As the person responsible for the organization, I feel a strong sense of duty to make further efforts."

Regarding how the commission will utilize artificial intelligence (AI) expertise, she said, "The most critical aspect of AI is data, and how well data is utilized is an essential factor in the advancement of AI," and continued, "We are considering systems that will enable us to both protect personal information and utilize it effectively based on trust."

Chairperson Song, who began her term as the third head of the Personal Information Protection Commission on the 7th, is recognized for her expertise in the AI field, having served as the first female director at the Ministry of Science and ICT, as well as holding positions such as Director of Software Policy and Director of AI-Based Policy.