[2027 Budget Proposal] Personal Information Protection Commission Increases Budget by 37% to 99.6 Billion Won, Focuses on Preventative Systems

37% Increase Compared to This Year for Prevention and Victim Relief

Newly Allocated 4.3 Billion Won for Building Preventative Systems

18.16 Billion Won Invested in AI Response Research and Development

15.8 Billion Won Earmarked for Public Interest Whistleblower Incentive Fund (Tentative Name)

The Personal Information Protection Commission will allocate approximately 100 billion won in 2027 to expand preventative systems, safely utilize Artificial Intelligence Transformation (AX) innovations, and respond to personal information breaches and leaks. With the shift in protection policy from post-incident sanctions to preventative measures—motivated by continued leaks at institutions and companies since last year—the budget proposal prioritizes building preventative systems, technical responses, and research and development (R&D).

Song Kyunghee, Chairperson of the Personal Information Protection Commission, is attending and speaking at the plenary meeting of the Personal Information Protection Commission held at the Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul. 2026.7.29 Photo by Jo Yongjun

On the 4th, the Personal Information Protection Commission announced that total expenditures for the 2027 budget proposal have been set at 99.6 billion won. This is a 37 percent increase compared to this year’s 72.9 billion won, with 83.8 billion won allocated from the general account and 15.8 billion won from funds.

Of this, 7.3 billion won is earmarked for the expansion of preventative systems, a 137 percent increase over this year’s 3.1 billion won. This is a central focus for the Commission, which has newly allocated 4.3 billion won specifically for the establishment of a preventative system in addition to 3.1 billion won for fostering a voluntary personal information protection environment. Plans include addressing personal information risks via inspections of practices around high-risk personal data and developing self-assessment tools.

For the safe utilization of AX innovations, 2.2 billion won has been set aside, with 1.4 billion won for building cooperation systems for personal information protection and 800 million won for establishing privacy risk management systems related to AX. Following the recent passage of an amendment to the Personal Information Protection Act in the National Assembly—which, on the premise of tailored safety measures during AI technology development, permits the use of original personal information for AI—an additional 800 million won has been allocated to support this regulatory change.

In response to the series of personal information breaches and leaks, funds for response and security reinforcement have also increased. Allocations include 8 billion won for preventing personal information breaches, 1.6 billion won for litigation support for the Commission, and 600 million won for supporting investigations into personal information incidents. This includes funding for digital forensic and technical analysis centers, supporting enhanced professional capabilities for investigations and inspections.

R&D funding to respond to AI technologies that threaten or exploit personal information—such as deepfakes—totals 18.157 billion won, up 36.7 percent from this year’s 13.28 billion won. By category, 8.2 billion won will go to developing leading technologies for safe use of personal information; 4 billion won to nurturing professional talent in personal information protection and utilization; 2 billion won to developing trust-based AI personal information protection and utilization technologies; 2 billion won to developing global privacy protection standards; and 2 billion won to full-cycle preventative safety technologies for personal information. Additionally, 5.3 billion won will support safe data utilization.

To build a secure MyData ecosystem, 9.7 billion won will be used to guarantee the right to request personal information transfers. Through this initiative, the Commission aims to strengthen individuals’ control over their personal information and address social issues such as welfare, care, and employment. In particular, to usher in the era of data sovereignty, a “MyData National Forum” will be established to ensure that citizen-proposed policies are implemented as pilot projects.

In addition, the “Public Interest Whistleblower Incentive Fund” (tentative name) promoted by the Ministry of Planning and Budget will allocate 15.8 billion won for initiatives that will tangibly enhance citizens’ rights and interests. This includes 9.4 billion won for reporting incentives related to information leakage, 5.1 billion won for operating systems to prevent further information damage and promote prevention, and 1.3 billion won for pilot programs supporting the recovery of victims of personal information breaches.

Song Kyunghee, Chairperson of the Personal Information Protection Commission, stated, “The 2027 budget plan strengthens a preventative, pre-inspection-focused personal information protection system and emphasizes the enhancement of rights and interests for those affected by data leakage. We will continue to create an environment where citizens’ valuable personal information can be safely protected and utilized.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.