In brief
The Korean police launched a preliminary investigation after a file containing personal details of 168 individuals, including President Lee Jae‑Myung, his wife and cabinet ministers, was posted online. The file, uploaded to a security‑scan platform in early June and remaining available for about five months, reportedly held names, affiliations, dates of birth and passport information. Cheong Wa Dae and the foreign ministry have taken responsive measures and are conducting further investigations, including re‑issuing passports to those affected.
Police announced on Nov. 2 that they have opened a preliminary investigation into an online leak that exposed personal information of 168 people, including President Lee Jae‑Myung, his wife Kim Hea‑Kyung and several cabinet ministers, according to Yonhap.
The file, titled "Passenger list (South Korea‑Belgium)", was posted on a paid security‑related website on June 2, the same day the presidential plane departed for a bi‑annual tour of Belgium, Italy and France. A paid‑membership platform that scans files for malicious code reportedly allowed users to download the uploaded document. Sources say the file remained accessible for roughly five months before it was removed.
Evidence in the file included Korean and English names, affiliations, job titles, dates of birth, passport numbers and passport issue and expiration dates for every individual aboard the aircraft, as reported by Yonhap.
Police suspect the document was uploaded during a malware scan, an assessment echoed by the Korean National Police Agency. The agency said it will investigate how the file was accessed and who is responsible for the leak.
The presidential office convened an emergency meeting on the same day, with chief of staff Lim Kwang‑hyun describing the incident as "a serious lapse that cannot be overlooked." Lim called for a thorough investigation of the data breach, for re‑issuance of passports for those affected and for a review of security protocols for presidential overseas tours.
The foreign ministry, speaking via spokesperson Park Doo‑soon, said it is conducting a "comprehensive and in‑depth" inquiry and has already deleted the leaked information from the website. Park added that the ministry is arranging for passports to be re‑issued to all victims, including President Lee and the first lady, and is reviewing security management of classified documents.
Cheong Wa Dae said it has taken responsive measures after becoming aware of the leak. The agency also urged relevant government bodies to strengthen security countermeasures. The investigation continues as officials seek to determine the scope of the breach and any ongoing risks to national security.
