In May 2012, the police was empowered to electronically obtain location information of
mobile devices from the telecommunication service provides for the purpose of rescue by
the Act on the Protection, Use, ETC. of Location Information, after years of pressure with
repeated serious violent crime outbreaks and controversy concerning the risk of breaching
privacy. This study examines the environmental, legal, and technological challenges related
to location tracking at the time of five years after the amendment of the law.
The bottom line of police's locating power is to secure the lives of people in deadly
emergent circumstance. Therefore, location tracking using given information should be swiftly
proceeded after consideration and judgment of justification in timely manner to electronically
request information to mobile carriers, and it is necessary to have somewhat flexibility of
interpretation to be applied to diverse situation. In addition, location tracking technology
should be continuously updated through cooperation with the stake-holders. Recognizing
substantial problems in practice, we identified and explored the issues including obtaining
prior consent for tracking the user's location in case of emergency, confirmation of
emergency situation requiring police presence, qualification of legitimate requester, and
limited applicability in various circumstances, which are required to reconsidered in
conjunction with the personal information protection laws. Additional practical issues may
include the expenses for information provision and other incentives to promote active
cooperation by the telecom companies.