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Busan Metropolitan City to Become a Leading City in Personal Information Protection Where Citizens Feel Safe in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it has established the 1st Busan Metropolitan City Basic Plan for Personal Information Protection (2026–2028) to respond to the rapid transition to artificial intelligence (AI) and changes in the digital administrative environment, to securely protect citizens’ personal information, and to create a trust-based environment for data use.

Personal information protection is a core element of safeguarding fundamental rights in the era of digital transformation and of enabling trust-based administration. The national government has also underscored its policy importance by presenting “establishing a personal information protection system where citizens can feel safe” as one of its key national tasks.

This basic plan is the first statutory mid-term plan established since the enforcement of the Busan Metropolitan City Ordinance on Personal Information Protection. It is significant in that it systematizes a roadmap for Busan Metropolitan City’s personal information protection policies over the next three years in line with the government’s policy direction.

The City has continuously strengthened its personal information protection framework through measures such as revising and amending the ordinance on personal information protection, operating a consultative body among related organizations, and achieving an A grade in the Personal Information Protection Level Assessment (a statutory evaluation by the Personal Information Protection Commission).

However, as challenges have been identified, including gaps in response capabilities among departments due to increasing personal information processing tasks and changes in the technological environment, limitations in citizens’ perceived effectiveness, and the need for a response system for new technologies, more effective policy implementation is required.

Recently, as the adoption of generative AI, the expansion of digital administrative services, and the spread of MyData have broadened the scope of personal information use, the risk of personal information infringement has also increased.

Accordingly, the City has shifted the direction of its personal information protection policy from a protection-centered approach to one that includes safe use and strengthens citizens’ capabilities. It has set, as the core of this basic plan, the establishment of a protection system that enables the safe use of personal information even in AI and new-technology environments.

Under the vision of “Busan, a leading city in personal information protection trusted by citizens,” the City will implement effective tasks based on three major strategies.

First, the City will build systematic personal information protection governance by strengthening the cooperation system between the City and district and county governments, and by advancing its management system through the establishment of a dedicated personal information protection organization and enhanced professionalism for responsible staff.

Second, to create a safe environment for the use of personal information and to respond to new technologies, the City will foster a safe personal information use environment through measures such as preparing protection guidelines in response to changes in AI and new technologies, strengthening the management of personal information processing systems, and promoting the use of pseudonymized information.

Third, to support stronger personal information protection capabilities for citizens, the City will expand education and promotion efforts, produce practical, day-to-day content, and carry out awareness-raising activities focused on preventing harm, so that citizens can easily understand and practice the importance of personal information protection in their daily lives, thereby spreading a culture of personal information protection.

In addition, to implement this basic plan, the City will allocate a total budget of KRW 2.886 billion over the next three years, and plans to invest approximately 80 percent (%) of the total in personal information protection technology.

This investment is intended to protect citizens’ information from increasingly sophisticated hacking threats. It is also a measure to rapidly establish a technology-based protection system so that citizens can use administrative services with confidence in an environment where AI and digital administration are expanding.

The City will also strengthen its 24-hour Cyber Security Monitoring Center and will work to improve the effectiveness of personal information protection even under limited fiscal conditions by linking related cyber security projects and budgets, including the establishment of an AI-based intelligent security monitoring system.

Mayor Park Heong-joon said, “This basic plan for personal information protection is the first mid-term plan established based on the City ordinance, and it will serve as the starting point and standard for Busan Metropolitan City’s personal information protection policies.” He added, “Personal information protection is only complete when systems, technology, and the professional capabilities of responsible staff are all supported together. Through investments in technology and field-oriented policy implementation, we will build a personal information protection environment where citizens can feel safe.”