People Power Party Seocheon Proportional Candidate Faces Controversy Over Request for Instructors’ Personal Information

Indirect Request via Women’s Center

Freelance Instructors Face Psychological Pressure, Say “Difficult to Refuse”

Attempt to Collect Personal Data Ahead of Election

Suspicions of Violating Election and Personal Information Protection Laws

Mr. A Explains, “Withdrew Request for Personal Data”

Amid the upcoming June 3 local elections, it has been revealed that a preliminary proportional representative candidate from the People Power Party in Seocheon County requested the contact information of instructors through the Women's Culture Center, raising suspicions of personal data collection.

The preliminary candidate, Mr. A, explained that he "withdrew the request after asking for personal information." However, there are criticisms that such actions are inappropriate given the timing ahead of the election, and some are even suggesting the need for an investigation.

According to The Asia Business Daily’s coverage on the 26th, Mr. A, a preliminary proportional representative candidate of the People Power Party in Seocheon County, requested an employee at the Women's Culture Center on April 23 to provide the instructors' phone numbers.

In response, the center employee sent a text message to the instructors, explaining, "I am asking whether you are willing to provide your contact information for greetings and personal communication," and added, "I will only forward it with your consent."

Text message content sent by a female culture center employee in Seocheon-gun to the center instructors at the request of A, a preliminary proportional representation candidate for the People Power Party in Seocheon-gun

The problem is that the instructors, who are freelancers, found themselves in a situation where their choice was essentially limited, as there were concerns that refusing to provide their contact information could result in disadvantages in future class assignments. Some instructors reported that "although it was phrased as a request for consent, it was practically difficult to refuse."

Particularly, criticism has arisen because the center is operated with subsidies from Seocheon County, raising concerns that this was an indirect request for personal information by leveraging the 'position and relationship.'

Additionally, there are points being raised that the very attempt to make contact using the center’s human network is fueling controversy over fairness.

Mr. A is reported to have resigned from the center to run in the local elections, which has led to suspicions that the request for instructors’ personal information may have been a pre-election outreach effort or an attempt to secure a support base for the campaign.

A lawyer commented, "The manner of asking about willingness to provide personal information through the center itself can act as indirect coercion," and added, "If a connection to the election is confirmed, this could amount to a violation of the Public Official Election Act or laws related to personal data protection." The lawyer further stated, "Whether personal data was collected must be clarified through an investigation."

In a phone interview with The Asia Business Daily, Mr. A explained, "It is true that I requested the contact information, but I later clarified that it was fine not to send it," and added, "I did not actually receive any personal information."

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