In brief
Korean police have launched a preliminary investigation into the leak of a file containing personal information of 168 people—including President Lee Jae Myung, his wife and cabinet ministers—posted on a security platform. The file, related to the president’s June trip to Belgium, Italy and France, was allegedly uploaded during a malware scan and remained accessible for roughly five months. The presidential office convened an emergency meeting, and Cheong Wa Dae has stated it will take corrective measures.
South Korean police have opened a preliminary investigation after a file containing personal details of 168 people—including President Lee Jae Myung, his wife and cabinet ministers—was posted online.
The document, titled “Passenger list (South Korea-Belgium)”, appears on a paid security‑related website that allows users to scan files or URLs for malicious code and download uploads. According to Yonhap, the leak exposed names in Korean and English, affiliations, job titles, dates of birth, passport numbers and issuance and expiration dates.
Yonhap reports the file was linked to President Lee’s June overseas trip to Belgium, Italy and France, and that the file remained accessible for about five months after its upload on June 2 before being removed. This five‑month duration is cited only by Yonhap.
In response, the presidential office held an emergency meeting presided over by chief of staff Lim Kwang‑hyun, who characterized the leak as a serious incident that must be investigated thoroughly. Cheong Wa Dae meanwhile said it has taken responsive measures and that the foreign ministry and other agencies will implement further actions.
Police suspect the file was uploaded during the platform’s malware scanning process, and they are examining the precise extent of the breach and possible damage. The case highlights ongoing concerns over the security of sensitive information related to presidential travels.
