President Moon: "The Core of the Digital Economy Era is Data Utilization"

Yoon Jong-in's Appointment Ceremony as New Personal Information Protection Commission Chairman... "Few Countries Have Accumulated as Much Data as We Have"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] President Moon Jae-in said during a conversation after the appointment ceremony of Yoon Jong-in as Chairman of the Personal Information Protection Commission on the 7th, "Personal information protection is a nationally important issue. The role of the commission is significant. The core of the digital economy era, which we are already facing and accelerating, lies in how well data is utilized. Data utilization and personal information protection are two sides of the same coin."

President Moon emphasized, "The more thorough the personal information protection system is, the stronger the power to lead the digital economy can become. In the Korean New Deal, personal information protection is set as a core task. This is because data can only be well utilized if personal information protection is well established."

President Moon said, "For personal information protection in the digital economy era, a sense of balance is needed to harmonize sensitivity with active data utilization. At the same time, the ability to collaborate with and coordinate various related government ministries and organizations is necessary."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Moon said, "Due to its importance, it was moved under the Prime Minister's office and the chairman position was elevated to ministerial level. Congratulations on being the first chairman. During your time as Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, you demonstrated excellent capabilities in conflict resolution and management, so I believe you will lead the commission harmoniously. I have very high expectations," he added.

Chairman Yoon said, "There was a time when countries that excelled in metallurgy were powerful, but now countries that handle data well are strong. When Kim Boo-kyum was Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, I proposed that the ministry's personal information protection function be transferred, and he willingly decided to detach part of the organization. That is how we have come this far," he said.

Chairman Yoon said, "When the related bill passed the National Assembly plenary session, I felt as if the nation's fortune was opening. I will take the President's words to heart. As you said, I do not think personal information protection and data utilization are conflicting values. The better we protect, the better we can utilize. As you instructed, we will become a country that protects personal information most safely and well. Although this is a newly established organization, I will make it an authoritative institution during my three-year term," he pledged.

President Moon said, "On one side, there is dissatisfaction that regulations are too strict to utilize data, and on the other side, concerns that personal information is not well protected or will not be protected are clashing. Both sides need to gain public sympathy for harmonious progress. Please establish a system for dialogue and communication with businesses and civil society."

Chief Presidential Secretary for Policy Kim Sang-jo said, "While accumulation of information in each field is important, combining it with other fields is also important, so please consider combination and protection carefully. Within the government sector, more sharing than now is necessary, and well-designed standards for combining and utilizing data disclosed to companies, researchers, and the public must be created."

In his closing remarks, President Moon pointed out, "There are not many countries that have accumulated massive data like we have in health insurance, the National Tax Service, and the National Pension Service. On the other hand, there is vague anxiety and fear that personal information will be infringed, which are clashing in the air."

President Moon said, "I hope we can conduct a pilot project. It seems necessary to come down from the air to the ground and verify and materialize it in reality."

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