LG Uplus Builds 'Quantum Cryptography Communication Pilot Infrastructure' for Public and Private Sectors

[Asia Economy Reporter Seol Gina Jo] A consortium led by LG Uplus will establish a ‘quantum cryptography communication pilot infrastructure’ in both public and private sectors.

The ‘LG Uplus Consortium,’ consisting of LG Uplus, Seoul National University, Cryptolab, ICTK, and Dream Security, announced on the 27th that it has won a quantum cryptography-related project commissioned by the Ministry of Science and ICT and ordered by the National Information Society Agency (NIA).

Following last year’s demonstration applying quantum cryptography technology in the medical and industrial sectors, the LG Uplus Consortium has expanded the scope of demonstration to the public and private sectors through this year’s project award.

In the public sector, the consortium plans to establish a dedicated quantum-resistant cryptography (PQC) line between Chungnam Provincial Government Office and the Civil Service Training Institute. The distance between the government office located in Hongseong, Chungnam, and the training institute in Gongju is 137 km.

Sensitive personal information such as resident registration numbers, driver’s licenses, and account numbers must be encrypted when stored in databases. The consortium plans to utilize quantum-resistant cryptography for database encryption of sensitive citizen information generated in the Chungnam Provincial Government Office operations.

Quantum-resistant cryptography can be applied to key security elements such as encryption key exchange, offering high scalability and enabling long-distance transmission over hundreds of kilometers. It can be implemented solely through software without additional equipment. This is expected to enhance the security of personal information and educational data of trainees at the Civil Service Training Institute.

In the private sector, dedicated quantum-resistant cryptography lines will be established for an entertainment company and a power plant, respectively. The goal is to spread secure non-face-to-face services by integrating quantum-resistant cryptography communication with new authentication security technologies.

The consortium will apply quantum-resistant cryptography technology to the dedicated line section of the entertainment company to strengthen information security for intellectual property and creative works owned by the company. By developing a next-generation authentication platform based on quantum cryptography and utilizing it for performance ticket booking and authentication, quantum cryptography technology will also be introduced in the B2C sector.

For the highly security-sensitive power facilities, dedicated quantum-resistant cryptography lines will be established between GS EPS Dangjin Office and Seoul Office to preemptively block large-scale blackouts caused by cyberattacks. A facial recognition access system incorporating quantum cryptography technology will be developed to enhance security in controlled areas.

LG Uplus is expanding the application range of quantum-resistant cryptography through government New Deal projects. Following the application of quantum-resistant cryptography to optical communication equipment (ROADM) and a USB-type security token (Q-PUF USB) compatible with small devices, the scope is being extended to applications. The strategy is to create a comprehensive security system effective even in the quantum computing era.

Recently, the effectiveness of the dedicated quantum-resistant cryptography lines established for companies in the industrial and medical fields was verified by obtaining testing and verification from the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA).

Im Jang-hyuk, head of LG Uplus’s Infrastructure Business Group, said, “We plan to enhance quantum-resistant cryptography technology through pilot projects in the public and private sectors,” adding, “We will upgrade algorithms such as key exchange and expand universal and highly usable quantum security infrastructure.”

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