South Korea's Personal Information Protection Commission will oversee the safe destruction of personal data held by Interpark Commerce and WeMakePrice after the two companies were declared bankrupt.
On Dec. 30, the commission said that as the likelihood of the two companies resuming services has effectively disappeared following the bankruptcy rulings, it plans to destroy member personal data collected and processed so far to prevent potential data leaks.
The commission plans to work with bankruptcy administrators handling the corporate liquidation process to verify lists of IT assets and where member data are stored, and to manage and supervise the permanent deletion of personal data in a way that cannot be restored.
It also plans to pre-emptively block situations in which personal data remain on used IT assets during disposal and are illegally distributed. The step is intended to prevent secondary harm that could occur if equipment is released outside without personal data being destroyed.
A commission official said it will continue on-site guidance and supervision so that the public's personal data are not illegally distributed or misused.
Seulgi Son
sageson@d-today.co.kr