Han Seung-sook, the Prime Minister candidate, expressed deep regret on June 22 regarding the data breach of personal information from the 'Everyone's Startup' platform, which falls under her current role as Minister of SMEs and Startups.
As she arrived at the confirmation hearing preparation office in Seoul's Tongui-dong, Han stated, "As the minister in charge, I feel a heavy responsibility and sincerely apologize."
She continued, "I failed to protect the trust of those who took the leap to start their businesses with faith in the government, and I genuinely apologize to the users who experienced worry and inconvenience."
Han emphasized that while 'Everyone's Startup' is a project still in development, it is crucial to prioritize the protection of citizens' personal information and trust above any policy objectives.
She noted that the Ministry of SMEs and Startups implemented emergency security measures immediately upon recognizing the incident. Currently, they are investigating the cause of the breach, the circumstances of the leak, and the extent of the damage in collaboration with relevant agencies. To ensure objectivity and expertise in the security assessment, they will also work with external security specialists for diagnosis and improvement measures.
"Above all, we will prioritize the protection of affected users and swiftly implement necessary measures to prevent further damage, while also ensuring that the ideas of entrepreneurs are securely protected," she stressed.
Han committed to thoroughly examining the concerns raised prior to the incident and the overall process of system construction and operation to ensure that timely actions were taken and that there were no deficiencies in oversight.
She added, "We will conduct a comprehensive review of our personal information protection and security management systems, strengthen oversight of external contractors, and check for security vulnerabilities to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. We will transparently disclose the investigation results to the public and take strict action regarding any wrongdoings and accountability."
Han described entrepreneurship as a vital youth policy and a national challenge, asserting that this incident should not dampen the enthusiasm and determination of young people to start their own businesses.
She concluded by stating, "I will ensure that those dreaming of entrepreneurship do not hesitate to take on new challenges, and I will meet with participants in the future."
Previously, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups reported that personal information of 5,000 applicants for the 'Everyone's Startup' project had been leaked. Investigations revealed that the breach was not due to an external attack but occurred when a company supporting the project was hacked.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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