South Korea’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday it was taking steps to reissue passports for all 168 people affected by an online leak of sensitive personal information, including President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hea-kyung, as police investigate how the data was exposed.
“The foreign ministry is swiftly taking measures to ensure the smooth reissuance of passports for all affected individuals, including the president and first lady,” ministry spokesman Park Doo-soon said during a briefing.
Police have opened a preliminary investigation into the leak, which involved personal information belonging to the presidential couple, cabinet members, senior officials from the presidential office and the foreign ministry, security personnel and reporters travelling with the presidential delegation.