The Personal Information Protection Commission said on the 4th that it set next year's budget at 99.6 billion won. This is the largest since the launch of the Personal Information Protection Commission. To strengthen the government's capacity to respond to cyberthreats in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), the budget was increased by 37% from this year's 72.9 billion won.
That day, the Personal Information Protection Commission said, "Next year's budget will be largely used for key projects such as spreading prevention systems, safe use for AX (AI transformation) innovation, improving rights and interests that people can feel, responding to personal information infringement and leakage incidents, and tasks for growth led by local governments."
Of that, 7.3 billion won will go to spreading prevention systems. That is up 137% from this year's 3.1 billion won. Specifically, 3.1 billion won was newly allocated to create a self-regulatory environment for personal information protection, and 4.3 billion won to build a preemptive prevention system for personal information. The plan is to eliminate personal information risks through building personal information protection systems and preemptive inspections.
The budget for safe use in AX innovation is 2.2 billion won, up 51% from this year's 1.4 billion won. It reflects 1.4 billion won to build a cooperative framework for personal information protection and 800 million won to establish an AX privacy risk management system. Through this, the commission plans to promote safe cross-border data transfer and, by introducing a special case for original AI data use, allow the use of personal information for AI technology development on the premise of tailored safety measures.
For responding to personal information infringement and leakage incidents and strengthening security, 8 billion won was allocated for preventing personal information infringement, 1.6 billion won for litigation support for the commission, and 600 million won for supporting personal information incident investigations. The litigation support budget is twice this year's 800 million won. The budget also includes funds needed to strengthen professional capabilities for investigations and inspections, such as operating a digital forensics center and a technology analysis center.
In addition, 5.3 billion won will be invested to support safe data use, 2 billion won for developing AI personal information protection and utilization technologies based on trust, 8.2 billion won for developing leading technologies for safe use of personal information, 2 billion won for developing global personal information protection standards, 4 billion won for training professionals in personal information protection and use, and 2 billion won for developing end-to-end安心 prevention technologies for personal information. Through this, the Personal Information Protection Commission also plans to invest in supporting tasks for growth led by local governments and in research and development for personal information protection and utilization to develop innovative technologies in the AI era.
Separately, 9.7 billion won was allocated to guarantee the right to request personal information transfer, supporting the creation of a safe MyData ecosystem. The plan is to strengthen people's control over their personal information and support the launch of innovative services to help address social issues such as welfare, care, and employment. In particular, in the era of Data Sovereignty, it will form the "MyData National Forum" with direct public participation and ensure that policies proposed by the public lead to pilot projects.
Meanwhile, 15.8 billion won was reflected as funding to improve rights and interests that people can feel in the integrated fund (tentatively named "Public Interest Whistleblower Encouragement Fund") promoted by the Ministry of Planning and Budget. Specifically, it includes 9.4 billion won for rewards for reporting personal information leaks, 5.1 billion won for preventing the spread of personal information damage and operating prevention systems, and 1.3 billion won for a pilot project to support recovery from personal information damage. The budget is expected to be used for restoring people's losses and providing relief for their rights.
Song Gyeong-hee, Chairperson of the Personal Information Protection Commission, said, "The 2027 budget proposal focuses on solidifying a prevention-centered personal information protection system through preemptive status checks and on improving the rights and interests of people who suffered personal information leaks," adding, "We will continue to create an environment where people's valuable personal information can be protected and used safely."