Koh Haksoo, Personal Information Protection Commission Chair: "Public Anxiety Over Data Breaches... Investment in Information Protection Must Be Strengthened"

Personal Information Protection Commission Holds Ceremony for Personal Information Protection Day
Pledges to Restore Services Following National Information Resources Fire

Koh Haksoo, Chairperson of the Personal Information Protection Commission, has stressed the need for investment in personal information protection in light of a series of recent data breach incidents.

On the morning of September 30, at the 5th Personal Information Protection Day ceremony held at The Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, Chairperson Koh stated in his congratulatory address, "With the continued occurrence of large-scale personal information leaks at telecommunications companies and credit card firms, public anxiety has risen significantly." He emphasized, "Now more than ever, it is crucial to focus on and invest in personal data from various perspectives."

Koh Haksoo, Chairperson of the Personal Information Protection Commission, is delivering a welcome speech at the '5th Personal Information Protection Day' ceremony held on the morning of September 30 at the Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Personal Information Protection Commission

Personal Information Protection Day commemorates the initial enforcement of the Personal Information Protection Act on September 30, 2011, and has been designated as a statutory anniversary since 2023 to raise awareness of the importance of personal information protection. This year's ceremony was held under the theme "Safe Personal Information, a Trustworthy Era of Artificial Intelligence (AI)" and was attended by more than 350 participants from industry, academia, and government.

Koh continued, "The rapid spread of AI is driving transformative changes across our society, but at the same time, it is also triggering new privacy threats." He added, "In an era of deepening AI, protecting and properly utilizing personal information are closely intertwined, like two sides of the same coin."

He further stated, "To strengthen our ability to respond to complex personal information infringement risks, the Commission has announced measures to reinforce the personal information safety management system." He emphasized, "To enable innovation in AI technology that the public can trust, a responsible data ecosystem that prioritizes personal information protection must be established."

Yoon Han-hong, Chairperson of the National Assembly’s Political Affairs Committee and a member of the People Power Party, said in his congratulatory remarks, "We will work to ensure that the principles of personal information protection in the AI era are faithfully reflected in all legislation and policy." Min Byung-deok, a member of the Political Affairs Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, also stated, "To promote AI technology innovation and prevent violations of citizens’ rights, the prompt passage of amendments to the protection law is necessary." John Edwards, Commissioner of the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), and Melissa Holyoak, Commissioner of the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), also sent video congratulatory messages.

Following the ceremony, awards were presented to individuals who contributed to personal information protection and its safe use. Choi Kyungjin, a professor at Gachon University, received the Order of Service Merit (Red Stripes) in recognition of his contributions to establishing a legal framework for personal information. Woo Jisook, a professor at Seoul National University, was awarded the Order of Service Merit for her role in promoting dispute resolution as a member of the Personal Information Dispute Mediation Committee. Hong Kwanhee, head of the Information Security Center at LG Uplus (CISO, CSO), received the Order of Civil Merit for his contributions to improving the personal information protection officer system.

The event also featured a National Personal Information Protection Practice Declaration Ceremony, with representatives from various sectors participating. In the venue lobby, demonstration and experience booths showcased personal information protection technologies, including AI-based pseudonymization solutions.

A representative from the Personal Information Protection Commission stated, "We will continue our efforts to establish a trustworthy AI data ecosystem that enhances privacy amid ongoing AI innovation," adding, "We plan to actively support Korean companies so that they can go beyond mere compliance with the Personal Information Protection Act and proactively engage in personal information protection activities."

Meanwhile, Chairperson Koh apologized for the inconvenience caused by the limited access to the Commission’s website and civil complaint services due to the fire at the National Information Resources Service in Daejeon. He said, "This incident has caused some disruptions to our public services, and we are providing additional guidance through a temporary website." He added, "We will do our utmost to ensure that public services are restored as quickly as possible."

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