South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said a leaked list of passengers for the presidential aircraft matches the ministry's document format, but was not issued as a formal official document, KBS 뉴스 reported on Tuesday. The ministry's statement came as authorities examined how the list, tied to what Korean outlets call "Unit 1," became public.
The disclosure exposed personal information belonging to 168 people, according to 동아일보, and YTN reported that the leaked manifest included the passport numbers of the president and the first lady. KBS 뉴스 also reported that the president has applied for a passport reissue.
On the cause, the ministry said it is leaning toward a leak rather than a hacking incident, according to KBS 뉴스. 동아일보 described the episode as a security inspection that ended with state secrets being compromised.
The case has drawn wide coverage in Korean media, with MBC 뉴스 and YTN among the outlets reporting on the document's status and the scope of the exposed data. The ministry's distinction between a document that follows its formatting and one formally issued is central to the account it has given so far.
What to watch next: whether investigators confirm how the list left the ministry's hands and what further steps the government takes on the exposed personal data.
