Korea to allow use of de-identified personal data

By Baek Byung-yeul

The government has decided on the commercial use of de-identified personal data to boost research and development capacity in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, according to state-run organizations, policymakers said Wednesday.

The Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Interior and Safety, the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) and the Financial Services Commission (FSC) said Wednesday they proposed bills to revise three amendments related to data privacy at the National Assembly on Nov. 15.

Under the amendment, de-identified data can be utilized for various R&D purposes. Some advanced countries such as European countries, the United States and Japan have already been using de-identified information for industrial and scientific purposes.

As the government allows utilizing more data, it will also strengthen responsibilities for using data. If a company violates a privacy law or misuses de-identified data, it will be hit with a fine or 3 percent of the organization's revenue.

To prevent any further re-identification, the de-identification process will be allowed only at special organizations equipped with security facilities.

The amendment also says the government will unify the management system of the privacy law. Thus far, the privacy law has been managed by four different organizations including the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Interior and Safety, the KCC and the FSC. The Personal Information Protection Commission will take control of the privacy law once the amendment is adopted.

The state-run agencies said the amendments follow a proposal of recommendation from the Presidential Committee on the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The committee hosted conferences twice this year in February and April, inviting officials from government organizations, civic groups, industrial communities and legal circles.