earticle

영어

Due to personal data leaks which have been repeated recently, citizens’ rights to information, generally the protection of ‘an individual’s right to an autonomous decision on personal information’ has become an important issue. Hereupon it is needed to review the normative meaning of citizens’ rights to information in the Constitution. Because, looking in some cases of personal information outflows in our society, the infringements on an information principal’s right to an autonomous decision have frequently been breaking out due to the lack of the understanding on citizens’ rights to information and it has been creating a disturbing situation, which is a cause for concern. Despite the fact that we shall recover the dignity of human beings and aim for a free and equal human society facing the huge wave of the 21st century called information technology civilization, imprudent personal information exposure could be connected to infringe on privacy and work as a way to damage human dignity. Therefore, it should be taken as a major issue which modern society should solve in favor of protection of citizens’ rights to information. In a personal data outflow context, the main problem of citizens’ rights to information is that the exposure of personal data has been conducted against the will of the principals of information. So there is no doubt that the guarantee and security of citizens’ rights to information should be ensured to the principals of information. However, the basis to control or regulate the personal data leaks shall be provided. So it seemss reasonable to discuss how it is based on the constitution since this is a problem which is related to the restriction and guarantee of fundamental rights. Thus this papert has focused on looking for the basis in its relation with the freedom of speech and expression, the right to pursue happiness, and the freedom of thought and conscience in the constitution and provide suggestions that a study on effective legislation to keep and develop proper functions of citizens’ rights to information is needed in conclusion.