Personal Information Protection Commission

Press Release

The PIPC Launches the Youth Monitoring Group to Combat the Illicit Circulation of Personal Information 

- The PIPC and the KISA held a launch ceremony for “The 4th University Student Monitoring Group to Respond to the Illicit Circulation of Personal Information” 

- Outstanding participants from previous groups will be appointed as “Monitoring Mentors” to share practical experience and expertise 

- The Monitoring Group will proactively detect and identify privacy vulnerabilities on social media and second-hand marketplaces over a six-month period

July 10, 2026 

(This is an unofficial translation of a press release, originally prepared in Korean.)

On July 10, 2026, the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) and the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) held a ceremony to launch “The 4th University Student Monitoring Group to Respond to the Illicit Circulation of Personal Information”.

The 4th Monitoring Group consists of 50 undergraduate and postgraduate students from 33 universities across the country. As digital natives with a deep understanding of the digital environment, the participants will take an active role in creating a safe digital environment over the next six months.

Starting this year, in particular, the PIPC has introduced a new program called “Monitoring Mentors,” to strengthen the expertise and effectiveness of the Monitoring Group activities. Participants from previous monitoring groups who demonstrated noticeable performance will be officially appointed as mentors and share their experience and know-how with the new members, including techniques for detecting online posts associated with the illicit circulation of personal information. Through this new program, they will assist new members of the Monitoring Group to adapt themselves faster to their roles and enhance the effectiveness of their monitoring activities.

The 4th Monitoring Group will also conduct hands-on vulnerability assessments of major digital platform services frequently used by young people, including social media and second-hand marketplaces. Through such activities, participants will do compliance checks on companies to see whether they incorporate privacy principles into their data processing practices, while identifying privacy infringement factors and vulnerabilities and exploring practical ways to address them. Ultimately, they will take the lead in creating a safe digital ecosystem.

At the same time, participants will have opportunities to take part in a range of programs, including mentoring sessions, visits to relevant agencies, and special lectures by experts. These activities are designed to provide participants with practical experience and help foster privacy professionals in the future. At the end of the year, the PIPC plans to select and recognize five outstanding participants based on a comprehensive assessment of their activities throughout the programs.

PIPC Chairperson Kyung Hee Song said, “The activities of the Monitoring Group are meaningful because they give young people, who will play a key role in shaping the digital era, an opportunity to take an active part in protecting the personal information of the Korean people.” She added, “Taking this opportunity, we hope that this experience will serve as a foundation for young participants to become privacy experts who will lead the data-driven future.”

* A PDF file, formatted for better readability, is attached.