PPP lawmaker introduces bill to shield domestic violence victims' personal data

People Power Party lawmaker Kim Geon said Tuesday he had introduced a bill to prevent the personal information of domestic violence victims from being disclosed during legal proceedings.

The legislation was prompted in part by a recent case in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, in which a woman who had fled domestic violence and relocated with her young daughter was killed after her new address was revealed to her husband during divorce proceedings. Under current law, victims may apply to a court for protection of personal information such as their address if disclosure could put them at risk — but those unaware of the option remain vulnerable to exposure.

The amendment would allow courts to protect victims' personal information on their own authority, without requiring a separate application. According to Kim's office, the bill was revised so that courts may protect a victim's address and other personal data without a separate request whenever an emergency temporary measure, a temporary measure such as a restraining order, a victim protection order, or a temporary protection order has been issued.

In addition, if the amendment passes, courts would be able to take protective measures on their own initiative whenever there is substantial reason to believe a victim's life or physical safety is at risk.

Kim said the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the Court Administration Office would also strengthen guidance on personal data protection in both paper filings and electronic litigation, and pursue a measure linking directly to the protection application process through the electronic litigation portal.

"There must be no protection gap in which a victim's information is exposed to the perpetrator during legal proceedings," Kim said. "I will do my utmost to pass this bill so that blind spots where victims' addresses can be disclosed are eliminated and victims' safety is guaranteed first and foremost."