[Edaily Reporter LEE YOU-RIM ] Police have launched a full-scale investigation into an incident in which the personal information of passengers aboard Air Force One—including President Lee Jae-myung and his wife—was leaked online.

The Cyber Terrorism Investigation Unit of the National Police Agency announced on the 3rd that it had upgraded its probe into the “Air Force One passenger list leak incident” from a preliminary investigation (internal inquiry) to a formal investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Previously, the police had launched a preliminary investigation immediately after media reports revealed that a file titled “Passenger List (South Korea–Belgium)” had been posted on a paid security-related website last June. Although a police official stated during the preliminary investigation phase that they were “examining the process of the information leak while keeping all possibilities open,” it is understood that the case was swiftly escalated to a formal investigation in light of its seriousness.

The file reportedly contained the names and personal information of key government figures, including President Lee Jae-myung and his wife, as well as Kim Yong-beom (then Chief of Staff for Policy), Wi Seong-rak (Director of the National Security Office), Han Seong-suk (current Prime Minister), and ministers Bae Gyeong-hoon, Cho Hyun, and Kim Seong-hwan. It is reported that the number of individuals whose information was exposed totals 168, including staff members from the Blue House and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, security guards from the Presidential Security Service, and journalists accredited to the Blue House. The disclosed personal information includes names in Korean and English, affiliations and job titles, dates of birth, passport numbers, and issuance and expiration dates.

In particular, it has been revealed that the file had been posted since June 2—prior to President Lee’s state visit—and remained unchecked for approximately five months, further amplifying the fallout. Although access to the site has now been blocked, concerns remain that, given the prolonged exposure, the possibility of the data being exploited for secondary crimes cannot be ruled out.

In response, the Blue House has launched an emergency response. Kang Yu-jeong, Senior Spokesperson for the Blue House, announced this morning that an emergency meeting regarding the leak of personal information from the presidential delegation was held under the chairmanship of Presidential Chief of Staff Lim Kwang-hyun.

Chief of Staff Im emphasized the need to thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the leak, the scope of the information exposed, and whether any actual harm occurred, as well as to clearly establish the management responsibilities of the relevant agencies. He also requested that relevant agencies conduct a comprehensive review of the security management system for presidential trips and devise effective countermeasures to prevent a recurrence.

Meanwhile, it was reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for the overall management of Air Force One and all aspects of diplomatic protocol. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, “We view this matter with the utmost seriousness and are currently conducting an in-depth, multi-faceted investigation into the relevant circumstances. We plan to take necessary measures based on the results of the investigation.”