In brief
South Korean police are investigating an online leak that exposed personal details of 168 officials, including President Lee Jae‑Myung, from a file posted on a security‑scan platform. The presidential office and foreign ministry are taking steps to assess the damage, improve security protocols, and reissue passports.
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 file, titled “Passenger list (South Korea‑Belgium),” appeared on a paid security‑related website that scans files and URLs for malware, where members can download uploaded content.
It listed names in Korean and English, job titles, birth dates, passport numbers, and dates of issue and expiry for officials aboard the presidential aircraft during a June trip to Belgium, Italy and France.
Police say the file may have been uploaded during a malware scan and it remained available for about five months before being removed.
In response, the presidential office held an emergency meeting on Tuesday. Chief of staff Lim Kwang‑hyun called the leak a serious incident that cannot be overlooked, and urged a full investigation into the breach and any resulting damage.
Foreign minister spokesperson Park Doo‑soon said the ministry is conducting a comprehensive technical inspection of computers and email accounts linked to the June trip, and has deleted the leaked information from the website. He added that passports will be reissued to those affected, including the president and first lady.
Cheong Wa Dae said it has taken responsive measures and that relevant agencies will look into the security management system for overseas trips.
