In brief
South Korean police opened a preliminary probe into the leak of a file listing the names, affiliations and passport details of President Lee Jae‑Myung, his wife, ministers and staff who traveled on the presidential aircraft to Belgium, Italy and France. The file was posted on a security‑scan platform on June 2 and remained accessible for about five months before removal. Cheong‑Wa Dae convened an emergency meeting to assess the breach and plan security reviews.
South Korean police have opened a preliminary investigation after a file containing personal data of 168 individuals, including President Lee Jae‑Myung, his wife Kim Hea‑Kyung, cabinet ministers and journalists, was posted online on a security‑scan platform on June 2.
The file, titled “Passenger list (South Korea‑Belgium)”, was uploaded ahead of President Lee’s overseas tour that included stops in Belgium, Italy and France. It listed Korean and English names, affiliations, job titles, dates of birth, passport numbers, and their issuance and expiration dates.
Police have noted that the document was accessible for about five months before it was removed from the site. The agency suspects the file was uploaded during the platform’s malware‑scanning process, a claim that remains unverified.
In response to the breach, Cheong‑Wa Dae held an emergency meeting presided over by presidential chief of staff Lim Kwang‑hyun. The meeting called the leak a serious incident that cannot be overlooked, and urged a full investigation into the extent of the damage and who was responsible. The agency also ordered a review of the security management system for presidential overseas tours.
Cheong‑Wa Dae has taken responsive measures, and the foreign ministry and other relevant agencies are slated to conduct further actions to address the leak.
