Seoul: The data protection regulator said Thursday it has fined British auction house Christie's 287 million won (US$193,600) over a data leak involving South Korean nationals. Christie's recently suffered a breach that leaked personal data of 620 South Korean members, including their names, addresses, and resident registration numbers, according to the Personal Information Protection Commission.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the breach occurred when a Christie's worker provided access to its personal information processing system to a malicious actor. The regulator also noted that the auction house failed to implement adequate security measures, such as encrypting customer data. The incident was reported past the 72-hour notification deadline required by regulations.

The Personal Information Protection Commission provided an image showing the regulator's sign, underscoring the seriousness of the breach. Christie's is expected to address the security lapses to prevent future incidents.