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🇰🇷 South Korea /Crime & Justice

Police launch probe into 'Everyone's Startup' data leak

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • South Korean police have launched an internal investigation into a personal information leak from the "Modu-ui Chang-up" (Everyone's Startup) platform, run by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
  • The leak affected over 5,000 first-round applicants, exposing email addresses, startup ideas, and evaluation summaries.
  • The incident is suspected to involve a solution provider company that was offering AI services to participants, which allegedly used the leaked data for promotional purposes.

South Korean police are investigating a significant personal data breach affecting the "Modu-ui Chang-up" (Everyone's Startup) initiative, a program overseen by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.

The investigation, initiated by the National Investigation Headquarters of the Korean National Police Agency, began after the ministry's affiliated agency, the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development (KISED), filed a complaint. Police have pledged a swift investigation into the exact circumstances of the leak.

We will swiftly investigate the circumstances of the leak.

— National Investigation HeadquartersStating the police's commitment to investigating the data breach.

KISED confirmed the data breach on March 18, stating that "information leakage through unauthorized channels has been confirmed." The breach impacted approximately 5,000 individuals who were first-round applicants for the program. Exposed data includes their email addresses, summaries of their startup ideas, and evaluation feedback.

Information leakage through unauthorized channels has been confirmed.

— KISEDAnnouncing the confirmation of the data breach on their website.

Authorities suspect the leak originated not from external hackers, but from a company providing artificial intelligence solutions to the startup participants. KISED reportedly identified one of these solution providers as having accessed and leaked participant information. This company is also accused of using the stolen data to send promotional emails to the affected applicants.

Han Seong-sook, the Minister of SMEs and Startups and nominee for Prime Minister, acknowledged the incident, stating, "As the minister in charge, I feel a heavy responsibility and deeply apologize." The investigation aims to trace the leak's origin and prevent further misuse of the sensitive information.

As the minister in charge, I feel a heavy responsibility and deeply apologize.

— Han Seong-sookMinister of SMEs and Startups, expressing regret over the incident.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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