Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has called for the introduction of punitive fines of up to 10% of total sales for companies responsible for repeated and serious personal data breaches, amid rising public concern over recent large-scale information leaks.
Speaking at a government policy coordination meeting, Kim said the administration will move quickly to strengthen legislation imposing tougher penalties on firms that fail to properly protect customer data. He stressed that strong sanctions are necessary to hold corporations accountable and restore public trust.
Kim criticized companies involved in recent data breach cases, saying their responses fell far short of public expectations. Under the proposed framework, stricter notification rules would also require companies to inform affected individuals not only about breaches but also about their right to seek compensation.
The push follows multiple high-profile incidents, including a leak involving a major credit card firm and a separate large-scale breach affecting tens of millions of users at an e-commerce platform. The government has since launched coordinated investigations and described the situation as a serious social crisis, vowing rapid reforms to prevent further damage.