Republic of Korea: Communications Secrets Protection Act (Bill No. 2203054, Partial Amendment) was adopted by National Assembly

On 8 January 2025, the National Assembly passed the Partial Amendment to the Communications Secrets Protection Act (Bill No. 2203054) during the 420th session. The amendment proposed to strengthen legal oversight of government access to communications data by codifying in statute the conditions under which the Minister of Science and ICT must revoke approval for wiretapping equipment. A new provision, Article 10(5), was introduced to require revocation where approval was obtained through false or improper means, with written notice to the affected party. The legislative intent was to elevate the legal basis for such revocations from Presidential Decree to primary law, in response to concerns that regulation of rights-intrusive administrative acts via subordinate legislation violated the principle of legal reservation.