The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) announced on the 9th that it has begun full-scale operations of the "Personal Information Innovation Zone" at Gwangju Technopark.
The Innovation Zone, introduced in 2024, is a facility designed to enhance the safety of data processing environments and enable flexible utilization of pseudonymized information. Seven institutions have been designated as Innovation Zones: the National Data Center, National Cancer Center, Korea Social Security Information Service, Douzone Bizon, Korea Expressway Corporation, Korea Education and Research Information Service, and Gwangju Technopark.
Research activities permitted within Innovation Zones include relaxed pseudonymization standards, utilization of various combination keys, long-term storage and third-party reuse of pseudonymized information for continuous and repeated research, sample inspection of big data including video and images, and demonstration of Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PET).
Gwangju Technopark, designated as an Innovation Zone in late October last year, secured data analysis facilities, improved system and network infrastructure, and passed PIPC's on-site verification to receive final approval as an operating institution. The Gwangju Technopark Innovation Zone is located adjacent to the Gwangju Cheomdan 3 District, which has been designated as an "AI-centered industrial convergence complex," raising expectations for organic linkages between pseudonymized information and AI development and utilization.
Gwangju Technopark plans to focus initially on supporting in-depth analysis and longitudinal research of data needed for the medical and healthcare industries in the Honam region. To this end, it has completed data analysis and utilization agreements with approximately 100 hospitals in the Gwangju and South Jeolla region, including regional hub hospitals Chonnam National University Hospital and Chosun University Hospital.
The organization also aims to continuously generate valuable data utilization cases within the Innovation Zone while building data utilization support capabilities. It plans to establish itself as a "Gwangju-South Jeolla pseudonymized information utilization support hub" by obtaining additional designations as a pseudonymized information combination specialized institution and a pseudonymized information utilization support center operated by the PIPC.
A PIPC official stated, "We plan to actively support the creation of diverse and valuable data utilization cases at the newly operational Gwangju Technopark Innovation Zone, and ensure that pseudonymized information plays a pivotal role in Korea's advancement to become a top-three global AI nation."