Woowa Brothers, the operator of delivery app Baedal Minjok (Baemin), South Korea's largest food delivery platform, said Wednesday it "sincerely apologizes to customers who suffered harm" in connection with a case in which a criminal organization member infiltrated one of its outsourced customer service contractors and misused customer data. The company said it would pursue measures to prevent a recurrence. The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) has launched a formal investigation after receiving a report from Woowa Brothers.
In a statement released the same day, Woowa Brothers said it "recognizes this incident with the utmost seriousness," adding that "we are actively cooperating with the police investigation and are swiftly carrying out follow-up measures." The company also noted that it "proactively reported to the PIPC the cases in which data misuse was confirmed through investigative authorities."
"We are also promptly notifying customers whose information may have been accessed," the company said, stressing that "we will take necessary measures if additional damage is identified or if investigative agencies make requests." The company has conducted a comprehensive audit of customer data handling at the outsourced contractor and is proceeding with contract termination. It also plans to strengthen internal controls by tightening hiring standards for customer service staff and inspecting management practices.
Earlier, the Yangcheon Police Station in Seoul arrested a gang that carried out revenge-for-hire crimes, including throwing filth at the front doors of victims' homes for payment. The investigation found that the gang received commissions through Telegram and then planted a member as a customer service agent at a Baemin outsourcing contractor to steal personal information needed for the crimes.
The PIPC launched a formal investigation after receiving Woowa Brothers' report. A PIPC official said, "We plan to obtain records of internal network access that are in question and examine Baedal Minjok's customer data management systems."