The National Human rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) held <Special Session of the 12th ASEM Informal Seminar on Human Rights> at the Plaza Hotel in Seoul on 29 June 2012 under the theme of the Role of Data Protection Authorities (DPA) and National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs).
Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights stipulate the right to privacy. However, along with the advancement of the internet and IT and expanded personal data collection by public organizations, human rights violations are increasing due to the leakage of personal data.
In this regard, many countries including United Kingdom and France established an independent Data Protection Authority and Republic of Korea also set up the Personal Information Protection Commission with the enforcement of the Personal Information Protection Act on September 2011.
At the conference, international and national experts analyzed the global trend of DPA and explore role and challenges of DPA. The following is the main point of the key speaker, Dr. Lee’s presentation.
Since the establishment of the Personal Information Protection Commission, the role of NHRCK which had been conducting tasks of personal information protection was put into question. In fact, NHRCK had been performing as DPA before the Personal Information Protection Commission. In the last decade, NHRCK dealt with 16,327 cases of complaints and counseling and issues 61 policy recommendations on the protection of personal information and privacy.
Therefore, given that newly-borne Personal Information Protection Commission lacks important authorities (authority to investigate; issue a corrective order; accuse an offender; and means of remedy), NHRCK should continue to perform its function as DPA with their accumulated expertise.
