In brief
South Korea’s main opposition party accused the presidential office of a security disaster after a file containing personal data of President Lee Jae‑Myung and 168 others was posted publicly. The PPP demanded an apology and accountability while the ruling Democratic Party called the opposition politicizing the breach. Police have launched a formal investigation and the presidential office says it has taken necessary measures after becoming aware of the leak.
South Korea’s main opposition party, the People Power Party (PPP), blasted the presidential office Tuesday after a file containing personal information of President Lee Jae‑Myung and 168 others was posted on a publicly accessible website later that month. The PPP called the breach a “security disaster” and urged the president to issue an apology for the office’s lax discipline and to hold responsible parties accountable.
Reactions
PPP spokesperson Cho Yong‑sool said the data leak was “akin to leaving the door wide open to an enemy or a terrorist group.”
"The data leak of key information related to a presidential overseas trip to the public amounts to a security disaster…what is more concerning is that the identities of security personnel, medical staff and aides assisting the president were also exposed," Cho added.
PPP leader Jang Dong‑hyeok echoed Cho’s concerns, asserting that penalties for personal‑data breaches should be so severe that companies fear business ruin. In a Facebook post he asked, “It is now the presidential office’s turn to go down?”
Ruling Democratic Party floor spokesperson Lee Ju‑hee countered, saying the PPP was politicizing the incident and fueling public anxiety. "The government immediately deleted the information posted on the website and took proactive measures to prevent further damage," Lee said in a written briefing. “The PPP should wait for the results of the government investigation and support measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.”
Cheong Wa Dae stated it had taken necessary measures after becoming aware of the leak, and police have launched a formal investigation. The incident has also prompted a broader inquiry: South‑Korean authorities are examining whether an internal mistake or an automated security scan led to the release of President Lee’s passport details and those of more than 160 officials. The investigation remains underway, with police and government officials continuing to scrutinize the source of the breach.
