[2026 Parliamentary Audit] Song Gyeonghee: "I Feel Responsible for Public and Financial Data Breaches... Will Investigate Thoroughly"

"Fundamentally Transform the Personal Information Protection System"
Punitive Surcharges of Up to 10% of Revenue Take Effect
Stronger Penalties for Noncooperation with Investigations and Concealing or Destroying Evidence

Song Gyeonghee, Chairperson of the Personal Information Protection Commission, said on the 13th, "I feel a deep sense of responsibility for recent data breaches, including the leakage of personal credit information, and will work closely with the ministries responsible for finance and security to conduct a thorough investigation."

Song Kyunghee, chairperson of the Personal Information Protection Commission. Yonhap News Agency

In her opening remarks at the National Assembly Political Affairs Committee's parliamentary audit that day, Chairperson Song said, "Large-scale data breaches have occurred one after another since last year, making it increasingly necessary to fundamentally transform the personal information protection system."

She added, "We have introduced strict sanctions, including punitive surcharges, and established a prevention system to ensure that investment in personal information protection delivers clear benefits. We will strengthen the effectiveness of investigations and ensure the new surcharge system operates effectively."

Punitive surcharges of up to 10% of revenue took effect last month. Chairperson Song said, "We will do everything possible to ensure the new surcharge system operates effectively. We will impose enforcement fines when parties fail to cooperate with investigations, and surcharges when they conceal or destroy evidence, to strengthen the effectiveness of investigations."

She added, "For major cases, we will form dedicated investigation teams to respond firmly and swiftly," and said, "We will also prioritize investigations into recent data breaches at major public institutions and in the financial sector." She said that, in the public sector, each ministry is conducting its own inspections of its affiliated and subordinate organizations, while the ministries and the Personal Information Protection Commission are jointly inspecting key systems to strengthen oversight.

She also emphasized the need to establish a system for the safe use of personal information to drive innovation through the artificial intelligence transformation (AX). Chairperson Song said, "Through special provisions for AI, we will work to address practical difficulties in AI development and provide tangible support for solving social challenges and advancing industry. We will review and improve the current personal information framework to ensure it is suited to the AI era, including by addressing privacy issues related to agentic AI."

On redress for victims of personal information leaks, she said, "We will strengthen the statutory damages system so that companies bear the overall burden of proof when a leak occurs, and establish a fund to ensure that revenue from collected surcharges can be used to protect the public's rights and help victims recover from harm." She added, "We will also establish appropriate standards, drawing on international discussions and precedents, for emerging technologies and everyday personal information issues, such as smart glasses and standards for handling information about deceased persons."

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