Young Koreans Now Can Delete Shameful Posts They Uploaded as Kids

VIVA – South Korea allows young people to delete any shameful posts they uploaded as kids, for those who wish to do so. This was announced by the South Korean Personal Information Protection Commission earlier this week. 

Young Koreans can remove private information, such as names, addresses, ages, and photos from internet searches and social media posts.

A 23-year-old university student who participated in the Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Festival in high school by dressing up as a game character is one of those who could benefit from the government’s new service.

“I thought it was fun at the time, but now I am afraid my boyfriend will see the photo,” she said.

But now, she wishes to delete photos she posted on an online community, but it has been years since she closed the account she used to upload the photos.

The government’s new project will help those under the age of 24 who have forgotten their passwords or who canceled their accounts to remove their digital records easily. Posts uploaded when they were younger than 18 will be eligible for the service.

Young people and children can apply for the service through the commission’s personal information portal (privacy.go.kr), and submit a link and information to prove that the post is theirs.

The government will request restrictions on the post to the website operator and ask that it be deleted or hidden. Moderators will be available to allow children to request deletion more easily.
 
Only posts uploaded by the individuals themselves can be requested for removal, but the government plans to gradually expand the program to posts uploaded by other people, including illegal filming.
 
“We expect children to be able to exercise the basic right to control personal information through the service,” said Lee Jeong-ryeol as secretary general of the Personal Information Protection Commission.