Protecting Personal Information!...Seongdong-gu Surpasses 3,000 Digital Storage Media Destroyed

First in Seoul's Autonomous Districts to Launch Free Destruction Service
for Personal Data Storage Devices such as Hard Disks, USB Drives, and Mobile Phones in February 2022

Seongdong-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Jung Wonoh), announced that the total number of digital storage media destroyed through its 'Digital Storage Media Destruction Service' has surpassed 3,000 units.

With the recent occurrence of personal information leaks at major telecommunications companies and the advancement of digital technology, concerns over data breaches are growing. Since leaked personal data can be exploited for spam, smishing, and financial crimes, information security has become an essential part of everyday life.

In February 2022, Seongdong-gu became the first among Seoul's autonomous districts to introduce the 'Digital Storage Media Destruction Service,' which provides free and secure destruction of storage devices containing personal information, taking a proactive approach to data security.

This service completely and physically destroys digital storage media containing personal information, such as hard disks, mobile phones, external hard drives, and USB drives, making recovery impossible.

Additionally, waste generated from the destruction of storage media is transferred to the Seoul Urban Metal Recovery Center, where it is recycled as metal resources, actively contributing to environmental protection.

Any Seongdong-gu resident, local small business owner, or office worker can use the service by making a reservation in advance through the Seongdong-gu Office website and visiting the Information and Communications Division (4th floor of Seongdong-gu Office). Even without a prior reservation, individuals can receive the service by visiting the relevant department.

The district is also operating a 'Personal Information Document Shredding Service.' Document shredders are installed in each community center, allowing any resident to conveniently destroy various documents as needed.

In May 2023, Seongdong-gu became the first in the country to enact an ordinance supporting the activation of personal information protection projects, leading efforts to prevent damage from data breaches and alleviate residents' concerns, thereby fostering a culture of safe personal information protection.

Jung Wonoh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, stated, "We are proactively implementing the 'Digital Storage Media Destruction Service' to address residents' concerns in the digital age and to securely protect personal information. With strong support from residents, more than 3,000 storage media have already been destroyed," adding, "We will continue to do our utmost to promote everyday personal information protection policies so that everyone can feel secure from the risk of information leaks."

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