GIST, First to Secure Next-Generation Absolute Security Communication Technology with Purely Domestic Technology

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Gwan-woo] The Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) announced on the 22nd that Professor Ham Byung-seung of the Department of Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering (Director of the Gwangyang Quantum Information Processing Center) has conducted and verified the first basic experiment on the next-generation classical cryptographic communication protocol that guarantees unconditional security in communications.

Classical Cryptographic Key Distribution (USCKD) is a next-generation cryptographic communication protocol method proposed last year by domestic technology experts. It guarantees unconditional security at the level of QKD and is fully compatible with existing communication equipment and lines. Additionally, it does not require quantum keys or quantum channels, freeing it from the quantum loopholes of QKD. Most importantly, it allows eavesdropping but fundamentally blocks cryptanalysis through the quantum superposition principle of dual channels against classical line hacking.

Unlike the quantum key distribution method based on the no-cloning principle, USCKD is fully compatible with existing communication equipment and facilities and secures unconditional security, establishing next-generation secure communication technology purely developed with domestic technology.

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) guarantees security of quantum keys (qubits) based on the no-cloning principle of quantum mechanics only on quantum channels, but it is incompatible with existing communication lines and equipment, and unconditional security is conditionally achieved due to quantum loopholes.

Professor Ham experimentally proved the unconditionally secure classical cryptographic key distribution protocol he developed last year for the first time, laying an important foundation for the practical application of unconditionally secure communication using classical communication equipment and facilities.

The USCKD classical cryptographic communication technology verified in this study is compatible with current commercial systems, achieves unconditional security using classical light sources, namely lasers, rather than single photons, and secures next-generation secure communication through dual channel superposition, which is currently the only absolute security method alongside QKD quantum key distribution, thus holding great potential.

While the absolute security principle in existing quantum cryptographic communication was based on the no-cloning principle of quantum signals, this study secured absolute security not through signal quantization but through channel quantization (quantum superposition). The key distribution process is deterministic, identical to the quantum memory principle, and the key generation/exchange speed is theoretically similar to existing communication data transmission speeds, making it an absolute secure communication method expected to realize the long-cherished One-Time Pad (OTP) for humanity.

Moreover, the absolute secure cryptographic communication technology is compatible not only with existing optical communication but also with wireless communication devices and facilities, enabling the use of existing communication lines to secure QKD-level unconditional security. Unlike QKD, it is free from cloning, switching, and routing constraints, making it directly applicable to the current internet dominated by classical computers.

Professor Ham said, “We have pioneered and verified for the first time in the world a new classical cryptographic key distribution technology that guarantees classical absolute secure communication, which was previously impossible by any method.” He added, “We expect this technology to be applied to defense networks, administrative networks, financial networks, as well as medical data transmission for remote healthcare, educational networks for remote lectures, and absolute secure wired and wireless communication technologies essential for future autonomous driving and flying.”

The results of this study were published online on the 18th in Scientific Reports, a sister journal of Nature.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.