In brief
A file listing 168 people, including President Lee Jae‑Myung and staff from a June overseas trip, was posted publicly and has been described by the opposition People Power Party (PPP) as a ‘security disaster’. The ruling Democratic Party (DP) denies politicization, saying the information was removed and checks are underway. Police have opened a formal investigation. The incident remains under scrutiny with officials coordinating containment measures.
On Tuesday, the People Power Party (PPP) condemned a leak of personal data belonging to South Korean President Lee Jae‑Myung and 167 others, including aides and security personnel, that had been posted to a public website after a June overseas trip. PPP spokesperson Cho Yong‑sool called the breach a "security disaster" akin to leaving a door wide open to an enemy.
Cho added that the identities of medical staff and assistance teams were also exposed, and urged an apology from the presidential office for its "lax discipline" and accountability for the leak. PPP leader Jang Dong‑hyeok posted a Facebook comment claiming that penalties for personal‑data breaches must be harsh enough to deter companies, hinting that the presidential office should face consequences.
DP floor spokesperson Lee Ju‑hee disputed the PPP’s framing, saying the government had "immediately deleted the information posted on the website" and had "checked whether additional data has been leaked." Lee urged PPP to "stop turning everything into a political issue and fueling public anxiety" while awaiting the outcome of the government investigation.
Cheong Wa Dae confirmed that measures were taken after becoming aware of the leak, but refrained from naming individuals responsible. The Seoul police department has launched a formal investigation into the incident, though details of the findings remain unannounced.
While the leak and the government’s response are confirmed by multiple sources, the DP’s claims that the data was promptly removed and that no further breaches exist have yet to be independently verified.
