South Korean president's passport data among 168 records leaked from a paid file

What was exposed

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is one of 168 people whose personal details were posted online, according to public broadcaster KBS, which Reuters and Yonhap both relayed. Europa Press counts Lee plus 167 other people linked to the presidency. KBS reported that the data included full names in Korean and English, affiliations, job titles, dates of birth, passport numbers and passport expiry dates. According to KBS, the file was a passenger list for the presidential aircraft on the June trip, and it covered the president, senior staff in his office and several journalists who cover the presidency. Reuters reported that security officers and national security adviser Wi Sung-lac were also listed. Wirtschafts Woche, citing KBS research, added that the president's wife, his personal physician and several journalists were affected as well.

How the file got online

The file, titled "Passagierliste (Republik Korea-Belgien)", was posted on a paid platform on 2 June, before the trip began. Yonhap reported that it was tied to passengers on the June journey, which took Lee to Belgium and Italy and then to France for the G7 summit. Reports differ on timing: Mediafax and Yonhap describe the file as posted a few days before the trip, while Wirtschafts Woche says it was uploaded a week earlier. Wirtschafts Woche adds that paying users could download it and that it stayed accessible for months.

Reuters said it was still unclear how the confidential file reached the platform or who downloaded it. The articles do not identify an uploader or any downloader.

Official response

KBS said it informed the presidential office, known as the Blue House, after it discovered the leak. Europa Press, citing Yonhap, reported that the presidency said it had known the content before publication and had already taken measures, and that other bodies, including the foreign ministry, had taken steps as well. A foreign ministry spokesperson said the ministry takes the matter very seriously and is investigating the circumstances of the leak from several angles. The ministry said it would take the necessary measures depending on the results. Wirtschafts Woche reported that the presidential office had announced a review and immediate countermeasures.

Wider context

Wirtschafts Woche notes that South Korea is widely regarded as one of the most technologically advanced and connected countries in the world, yet it has repeatedly faced criticism over security gaps and data leaks affecting personal information. The leak involves identity documents of senior officials, which makes the investigation's findings on how the file was uploaded a key open question. The investigation is ongoing and no outcome has been reported.