Bereaved Family Lawyer of North Korea-Shot Civil Servant Files Constitutional Appeal: "Indiscriminate Communication Surveillance is Unconstitutional"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Kim Ki-yoon, a lawyer representing the family of a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official killed by North Korean soldiers in the West Sea, has filed a constitutional complaint challenging certain provisions of the Telecommunications Business Act, claiming he was subjected to 'wiretapping.'

On the 26th, Lawyer Kim held a press conference in front of the Constitutional Court, stating, "I have no criminal record and am not under investigation," but added, "Nevertheless, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Incheon District Prosecutors' Office, and Seoul Seocho Police Station accessed my communication data."

According to the communication data provision details disclosed by Lawyer Kim, these agencies accessed his communication data, including his address and phone number, four times between February and November of last year.

Lawyer Kim claimed, "I requested information disclosure from the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office to learn the reasons for the communication data inquiries but received a non-disclosure notice," and argued, "Investigative agencies are indiscriminately infringing on citizens' rights to personal information self-determination and freedom of communication privacy."

He further stated, "Article 83, Paragraph 3 of the Telecommunications Business Act has excessively broad purposes for collecting personal information and scope of subjects, and it does not stipulate procedures for data subjects to be informed of the provision of their personal information," adding, "It violates the principles of proportionality and clarity, so the Constitutional Court should rule it unconstitutional."

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