Assemblyman Kyungtae Cho: "'Online Resident Registration Number' Should Be Renewed Every Year"

As connection information (CI) has been repeatedly leaked in major personal data breach incidents, there are growing calls to introduce a one-year validity period for CIs that would require regular renewal.

Kyo Kyung-tae, member of the People Power Party. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

On September 21, Kyungtae Cho, a member of the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee from the People Power Party, announced that he plans to urge the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Committee to introduce a one-year validity period for CIs, as well as an emergency change and reissuance system, during the upcoming parliamentary audit.

CI is generated when internet users verify their identity and is used to confirm the same individual across different online services. Because the same identifier is used for multiple services, there is a risk that personal data leaked from different companies could be combined using the CI as a link. Another issue is that, once a CI is leaked, it is difficult for users to apply for reissuance.

In response, Assemblyman Cho proposed introducing a validity period for CI so that it would be updated to a new value regularly.

While the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Committee is reviewing ways to improve the CI system, no concrete reform plan has been announced yet.

Assemblyman Cho stated, "CI, often called the 'online resident registration number,' cannot be easily changed by citizens themselves if leaked even once. The Broadcasting and Telecommunications Committee should immediately promote aspects that can be handled through regulatory revisions and, if an amendment to an enforcement ordinance or law is needed, coordinate with the National Assembly to present a concrete timeline and roadmap for implementation."

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