Lee orders creation of 'cybersecurity czar' body; police chief nominee pledges cooperation

Kim Jong-cheol, the nominee for Korean National Police Agency commissioner general, said Monday he would "actively cooperate" after President Lee Jae Myung ordered a review of establishing a "cybersecurity czar" body to coordinate the government's response to cyber threats.

Responding in writing to reporters' questions about the proposed cybersecurity czar, Kim said the police had not yet received any separate briefing on the matter but would "actively cooperate if there is anything required."

Lee raised the issue at a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday, citing a hacking incident at Binance, the world's largest virtual asset exchange, in which 8.4 trillion won ($6.19 billion) was stolen. "We must establish a comprehensive prevention framework to counter the cybersecurity crisis, which has expanded to a level that seriously affects not only people's daily lives but also the national economy and security," he said.

Lee called for discussion on setting up a pan-government task force spanning both the public and private sectors, and urged officials to "actively review the creation of a powerful and effective cybersecurity czar body capable of overseeing and coordinating the scattered security functions."

Meanwhile, the Korean National Police Agency launched an investigation Tuesday into the online leak of a passenger list for the presidential aircraft — which included President Lee and the first lady — ahead of a European trip last June. A police agency official said investigators were "closely conducting an investigation to determine the circumstances under which the information was uploaded, through international cooperation, data analysis and questioning of those involved."