Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Hoon-ki (이훈기) urged government-level measures to protect users, including waiving contract penalties, over suspicions that LG Uplus destroyed evidence related to hacking.

Documents Lee's office received from the Ministry of Science and ICT on Sept. 10 show the ministry has asked investigative authorities to probe LG Uplus over the disposal of servers on suspicion of obstructing official duties by deception under Article 137 of the Criminal Act.

On its future response plan, the ministry replied: "If violations of the law are confirmed in the investigation results, we will review necessary measures in accordance with current laws and regulations."

Lee said the ministry has not presented separate measures to remedy user 피해 or institutional improvements to prevent similar cases after requesting the investigation, and urged additional action. He said in a written inquiry to the National Assembly committee on Sept. 8 that the ministry should not stop at waiting for the police investigation results and should prepare measures as the competent ministry.

Lee told Deputy Prime Minister Bae Kyung-hoon (배경훈), who also serves as science and ICT minister, "If this case is not properly addressed, a misguided practice will take hold among companies that 'covering up is the answer' to hacking."

He added: "If intentional destruction of hacking evidence and interference with the investigation are confirmed, there is a need to clearly define this as grounds for waiving contract penalties due to the company's responsibility." He said, "Along with user-protection measures such as waiving penalties, measures to prevent the destruction of hacking evidence should be 마련."

Separately, the Personal Information Protection Commission on July 29 asked police to investigate, saying LG Uplus disposed of relevant servers before its investigation began, making it difficult to determine how personal information was leaked, and judged it to be an act of obstructing official duties.

The commission is pursuing institutional improvements such as criminal punishment for hiding or disposing of evidence before investigations begin, imposing administrative penalties when evidence is hidden or disposed of, imposing enforcement fines for non-cooperation with investigations, and introducing preservation orders for materials when an incident occurs.