(LEAD) Police launch investigation into leak of presidential plane passenger information
Police probe online leak of personal information of 168 individuals, including the president, his wife, Cabinet ministers, and journalists
Quick Look
- South Korean police have launched a formal criminal investigation into the online leak of personal information belonging to 168 individuals, including President Lee Jae Myung, his wife, Cabinet ministers, Cheong Wa Dae staff, foreign ministry officials, Presidential Security Service members, and journalists.
- The leaked data, which included names, affiliations, job titles, dates of birth, passport numbers, and passport issuance and expiration dates, was uploaded to a paid security-related website on June 2 and remained accessible for about five months.
- The file reportedly contained information about individuals aboard the presidential aircraft during Lee's June visits to Belgium, Italy, and France.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
A file titled "Passenger list (South Korea-Belgium)" was posted on a paid, security-related website in June. The file contained personal information of 168 individuals, including President Lee Jae Myung, his wife, Cabinet ministers, Cheong Wa Dae staff, foreign ministry officials, Presidential Security Service members, and journalists covering Cheong Wa Dae. The information included names in Korean and English, affiliations, job titles, dates of birth, passport numbers, and passport issuance and expiration dates. Police opened a preliminary probe and have now switched to a formal criminal investigation.
Police said Tuesday they have launched a formal investigation into the online leak of personal information belonging to 168 individuals, including President Lee Jae Myung, his wife and Cabinet ministers.
Earlier in June, a file titled "Passenger list (South Korea-Belgium)" was posted on a paid, security-related website, according to the Korean National Police Agency.
The file reportedly contained the personal information of 168 individuals, including Lee and his wife, key government officials, staff members of Cheong Wa Dae and the foreign ministry, members of the Presidential Security Service and journalists covering Cheong Wa Dae. The information is said to include their names in both Korean and English, affiliations, job titles, dates of birth, passport numbers, and passport issuance and expiration dates.
The website in question is a platform that allows users to scan files or web addresses for malicious code. Paid members and other users are reportedly able to download files uploaded to the platform.
After earlier opening a preliminary probe into the leak, police said they have switched to a formal criminal investigation.
Police suspect that the file, which contained information about individuals aboard the presidential aircraft during Lee's visits to Belgium, Italy and France in June, was uploaded to the platform in the process of being scanned for malicious code.
The file reportedly remained accessible for about five months after being uploaded on June 2, ahead of the presidential tour, but is now no longer accessible.
Cheong Wa Dae said it has taken responsive measures after becoming aware of the online information leak and the foreign ministry and other relevant agencies would carry out further actions.
The foreign ministry, which is also investigating the incident, separately reported the leak to the country's privacy watchdog on Tuesday.
An official at the Personal Information Protection Commission said the agency plans to verify details of the leak based on the report.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The Personal Information Protection Commission will verify details of the leak based on the foreign ministry's report.
Very likely · Within days
The foreign ministry and other relevant agencies will carry out further actions regarding the leak.
Very likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Who uploaded the file to the security-related website?
- Was the leak the result of a malicious scan or an accidental upload?
- Have any of the 168 individuals suffered harm as a result of the leak?
- What specific responsive measures has Cheong Wa Dae taken?
