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Opinions on the Bill on the Public Office Candidate Personal Information Collection and Management Act [2004] KRNHRC 8 (1 January 2004)

The Civil Service Commission prepared a bill on the Public Office Candidate Personal
Information Collection and Management Act in order to enforce particulars under the State
Public Officials Act. The Commission found that the bill has potential to violate rights to
privacy of personnel information of pubic officials and candidates for public office as the
bill stipulates the purpose and scope of collection of personal information on candidates for
public offices more broadly than the State Public Officials Act. The Commission also
concluded that the bill was highly likely to infringe on secrets, freedom of privacy, and
rights of integrity due to exposure of information as there are no provisions that restrict the
transfer of collected information to other agencies.

The Commission expressed opinions that
(1) the purpose and scope of collection of personal information on candidates for public office
should be more narrowly defined,
(2) detailed provisions should be stipulated in case personal information is to be given to other
agencies and approval should be obtained from an information provider in advance before
giving information to other agencies, or notification should be given to the information
provider of the fact that information has been given to other agencies.