Latest news with #PersonalInformationProtectionAct
Korea Herald
5 hours ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Mandatory USIM encryption, penalties for safety negligence
Proposed bill: Partial Amendment to the Personal Information Protection Act Proposed by Rep. Kim Woo-young (Democratic Party of Korea) ● This bill would expand requirements for mandatory encryption, currently limited to personally identifiable information and biometric data, to include USIM-related data. Proposed bill: Special Act on Construction Safety Proposed by Rep. Moon Jin-seog (Democratic Party of Korea) ● This bill would impose a business suspension of up to one year or a penalty surcharge of up to 3 percent of sales on construction firms, construction engineering businesses, and architects whose negligence in fulfilling safety management duties results in a fatality. Pending bill: Partial Amendment to the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act Proposed by Rep. Lee Yong-woo (Democratic Party of Korea), Rep. Shin Chang-sik (Rebuilding Korea Party) and Rep. Jung Hye-kyung (Progressive Party) ● This bill would strengthen limits on corporate damage claims against unions and redefine 'worker' to include union organizers and members, while broadening the scope of 'employer' to include persons having de facto control over the working conditions of workers. Promulgated bill: Enforcement Decree of the Petroleum and Alternative Fuel Business Act Competent authority: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy ● Effective July 1, the amended law extends the reduced surcharge on natural gas imports for petroleum refiners, exporters, and importers of non-power generation natural gas through the end of the year, setting the surcharge at 20,605 won ($14.79) per ton. Administrative announcement: Partial Amendment to the Employment Insurance Act Competent authority: Ministry of Employment and Labor ● The draft amendment would revise the eligibility criteria for employment insurance by replacing the previous 'working hours' standard with an income-based threshold, thereby allowing part-time workers to enroll. The Korea Herald republishes a weekly legislative report by local law firm DR & AJU LLC to provide the latest information on bills approved, proposed, pending and set to be promulgated. — Ed.
Korea Herald
07-07-2025
- Health
- Korea Herald
No DTC genetic testing of teens for ‘looks': gov't guideline to say
South Korea to provide guidelines for market of direct-to-consumer genetic testing The government is working on guidelines for direct-to-consumer genetic testing for underage children, mandating the consent of the subject being tested if they are at least 14, while banning examination of non-medical factors. The Ministry of Health and Welfare on Monday revealed its study for DTC genetic testing for minors guidelines, which focused on respecting self-determination rights while regulating possible abuse of the novel procedure. South Korea does not yet have government guidelines on all the details related to DTC genetic testing, which refers to genetic tests marketed directly to customers, unlike the same tests conventionally conducted by health care providers. Testing authorized by the local government has gradually grown to encompass 70 different factors in December of 2022, to 190 as of June of 2024, spanning health, physical attributes and lifestyle that were divided into fields related or unrelated to health. The new guidelines, which will be implemented as early as next year, state that DTC genetic testing for minors should be strictly focused on the factors that can benefit one's health. This includes factors such as obesity, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels, of which related medical issues could be prevented or managed. But factors such as hair loss, skin tone, and the ability to consume nicotine or alcohol are likely to be eliminated from the list of testable factors for underage consumers. According to the report, this is to prevent potential psychological side effects and discrimination among peers that may result from genetic testing. To determine which factors are suitable for testing, the expert group in the study suggested a separate deliberation committee. Another main issue is minors' input on whether they want to be tested. The expert group in the study suggested age 14 to be the threshold for mandated self-consent for DTC testing. The testing phase of DTC testing mandated only the consent of the parent, but the report stated that children aged at least 14 should be included in the decision-making process. The minimum age of 14 is the guideline of several legal clauses here. For example, the Personal Information Protection Act states that only those aged 14 and above can directly consent to provide personal information. The ministry's new guidelines will also impose obligatory informative sessions for DTC testing users, stating that the test is not 100 percent accurate and cannot be considered a substitute for medical advice from a professional or diagnosis of a disease. Another safety net concerned with misinformation about testing is a possible mandatory explanation on DTC testing by a medical expert before receiving the examination.
Korea Herald
16-06-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Promoting sustainable, innovative growth in local industries
The Korea Herald republishes a weekly legislative report by local law firm DR & AJU LLC to provide the latest information on bills approved, proposed, pending and set to be promulgated. — Ed. Proposed Bill: Act on the Establishment and Operation of the Southeastern Regional Industrial Investment Corporation Proposed by Rep. Min Byoung-dug (Democratic Party of Korea) ● This bill would establish the Southeastern Regional Industrial Investment Corporation to boost industrial competitiveness and support the sustainable growth of local businesses, with approximately 3 trillion won ($2.2 billion) in capital contributed by public institutions. Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act Proposed by Rep. Cha Gyu-geun (Rebuilding Korea Party) and Rep. Kim Hyun-jung (Democratic Party of Korea) ● The current Act requires investors holding 5 percent or more of a listed company's shares, or making a 1 percentage point change in shareholding thereafter, to report their shareholding and purpose to financial authorities if the intent is to influence management. This bill would narrow the broad phrase 'to influence management' to 'to substantially influence effective control,' aiming to protect minority shareholders' voting rights. Pending Bill: Special Act on Strengthening Competitiveness and Promoting Innovative Growth in the Semiconductor Industry Proposed by Rep. Lee Chul-gyu (People Power Party) ● This bill proposes allowing swift infrastructure support and exempting research and development workers in the semiconductor industry from the 52-hour weekly work limit with mutual agreement, aiming to enhance the industry's global competitiveness. Promulgated Bill: Special Act on Underground Safety Management Competent Authority: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport ● Effective May 27, the amended law will authorize the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to conduct onsite inspections to assess the safety management of underground facilities and surrounding ground in areas at risk of ground subsidence Administrative Announcement: Partial Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Personal Information Protection Act ● In line with the recent amendment to the Personal Information Protection Act regarding the domestic agent system, this draft amendment specifies the scope of entities subject to the domestic agent requirement. For queries about the bills, contact cr@ koreadherald@
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Lee Sun Kyun's drug prosecution case: Two government officials charged for leaking important information related to the late actor; a journalist involved
The late actor Lee Sun Kyun 's drug prosecution case has been going on. According to recent reports, a police officer, as well as a prosecution investigator, has been formally charged for leaking information related to the case. The journalist that they leaked and shared the information with was also indicted by prosecutors in the case. Government officials and journalists charged for sharing and receiving sensitive information The drug prosecution case involving the late actor Lee Sun Kyun has received new updates as two government officials as well as a journalist have been charged by prosecutors. According to Korea JoongAng Daily, the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office announced on June 5 that two government officials had been charged without detention for allegedly sharing important and sensitive information with a journalist. One former police lieutenant with the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency, an investigator at the Incheon prosecutors' office, and a journalist who received and publicly shared the private information have all been charged for leaking information and for sharing private and personal data under the Personal Information Protection Act. What was leaked? According to reports, the former lieutenant shared a progress report on the drug case as well as another document in October 2023 by photographing the evidence. The report was confidential in nature, as it contained private details like the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all the individuals that had been identified and were being investigated in relation to Lee Sun Kyun's drug case. The progress report was also prepared and compiled by the narcotics crime investigation team of the Incheon police. The investigator, on the other hand, had privately leaked information to a reporter. This person had allegedly informed a reporter verbally that actor Lee Sun Kyun was under formal investigation for drugs. None of this information had been cleared for public release and had been unofficially leaked by the two officials as the case was still being investigated confidentially. The leaked content was allegedly edited after being received by the journalist and was shared by an unnamed online news portal on December 28 in 2023, that too only a day after actor Lee Sun Kyun passed away and was found. About Lee Sun-kyun and the case Lee Sun Kyun, well known for his role in the film 'Parasite', had been under investigation since 2023 for drug-related charges. As per reports, the actor had been regularly attending questioning sessions at the police station. Due to the leaked information, the actor's name and face were on the front page and on everyone's screen even before any conclusion could be drawn from the questioning sessions. On December 26, 2023, actor Lee Sun Kyun was found in his car. The actor had already passed away by the time he was found.
Pink Villa
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Lee Sun Kyun death: 2 government officials and journalist indicted for leaking confidential case details, know more
Trigger Warning: This article contains mentions of dr*g use and sensitive circumstances surrounding a public figure's demise. Reader discretion is advised! In a major development tied to the late actor Lee Sun Kyun's controversial dr*g investigation, two government officials have been indicted. A journalist has also been charged for illegally disclosing sensitive information to the press. On June 5, the Incheon District Prosecutor's Office revealed that formal charges had been filed against a police officer and a prosecutorial investigator for breaching official secrecy. A journalist was also indicted for violating personal data protection laws. This indictment follows a months-long investigation into how details from a confidential criminal probe made their way into the public sphere. Many believe it contributed to the severe public scrutiny faced by Lee Sun Kyun prior to his tragic death in December 2023. Leaked files and conversations triggered sensationalism According to prosecution authorities, the first breach occurred on October 18, 2023. A police officer in his 30s, referred to only as 'A,' captured photographs of official investigation records. These documents reportedly contained detailed information on individuals linked to the dr*g case. It included names, prior criminal offenses, and occupations. The images were allegedly distributed to two reporters, despite containing information that had not yet been verified or cleared for release. The following day, a separate leak allegedly occurred. A prosecutorial investigator in his 40s, identified as 'B,' is said to have informed a different journalist that Lee Sun Kyun was under formal investigation. This verbal disclosure, made while the case was still at a confidential stage. It reportedly served as the tipping point for a flood of media coverage that framed the actor's situation in a highly sensationalized manner. The journalist who received and published this information, named 'C' in the report, has now been indicted under South Korea's Personal Information Protection Act. This law prohibits the release of private or unverified details obtained through unauthorized means. Timeline: From private probe to public pressure Lee Sun Kyun, internationally known for his performance in Parasite, had quietly been under police investigation since October 14, 2023. He voluntarily attended three rounds of questioning related to alleged dr*g use. However, before authorities had even concluded their findings or presented evidence publicly, his name and alleged charges began appearing in headlines across the country. The release of unconfirmed information and speculative coverage across social platforms only amplified the pressure on the actor. On December 26, 2023, Lee was found deceased in his car. His sudden death prompted a wave of grief and anger throughout the entertainment industry and the general public.
