By Kim A-rin, The Herald Business
Police have launched a preliminary investigation into a personal data breach involving "Modu-ui Changup," a government-run startup competition that drew 62,944 applicants.
The Korean National Police Agency's National Investigation Headquarters said Tuesday it had ordered a pre-indictment inquiry, known as a preliminary probe, in connection with a data breach disclosed on the Korea Entrepreneurship Foundation's website on June 18. The Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency's cybercrime unit is conducting the investigation.
The National Investigation Headquarters also said it had received a formal investigation request from the Korea Entrepreneurship Foundation, which runs the contest under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, on Monday.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced June 18 that the personal information of 5,000 applicants had been leaked. The compromised data included contact details and materials related to the startup ideas the applicants had submitted. The breach drew further criticism after it emerged that the ministry had waited three days after discovering the leak before reporting it to the Korea Internet & Security Agency.
Modu-ui Changup is a flagship policy championed by Han Sung-sook, the minister of SMEs and Startups, who has since been nominated as the new prime minister. The contest awards 1 billion won ($651,000) to one selected winner to fund their startup venture.
In a statement Monday, Han said she was "deeply sorry" for failing to protect the trust of those who had "believed in the government and taken on the challenge of starting a business," adding that she felt "a heavy sense of responsibility as the minister in charge."
arin@heraldcorp.com
