Ministry of Science and ICT Advances Cybersecurity System Enhancement

Continuous On-site Meetings Held

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced that Vice Minister Park Yoon-kyu held a series of on-site meetings on the 9th at the KT Gwacheon Tower with about 10 participants including major Internet Service Providers (ISPs), information security professional service companies, experts, and related agency officials to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities.

This meeting was held to review the current cybersecurity systems of major ISPs that provide core infrastructure internet services amid the rapid digitalization of all areas including economy, society, and culture, and to discuss ways to advance security systems. Starting with this meeting, the Ministry of Science and ICT plans to hold about five thematic on-site meetings to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities, covering topics such as ISP security response system inspections, research and development (R&D) directions, and the introduction of zero-trust models.

Participants of the consecutive on-site meetings to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities are taking a commemorative photo. [Photo by Ministry of Science and ICT]

Choi Kwang-hee, Head of the Cyber Incident Response Division at the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA), presented analyses and response cases of major cyberattacks including the evolution of DDoS attack techniques, hacking attacks exploiting software (SW) vulnerabilities, and the necessity of supply chain security and zero-trust system adoption. Following this, Professor Yoo Ji-yeon from Sangmyung University presented on the need to establish corporate group response systems and the importance of sharing cyber threat information, outlining response directions according to changes in the cybersecurity paradigm.

The current security system status of major ISPs and the results of network equipment security inspections conducted based on recommendations from the Ministry of Science and ICT (KISA) were shared. Since last month, security inspections have been conducted so that each company can check and improve system and network equipment configurations, security equipment status, and management systems by referring to recent breach incidents.

Finally, together with information security professional service companies and experts, specific advanced measures for cybersecurity systems to ensure the safe provision of information and communication services were discussed, along with effective inspection and support plans for information protection systems for telecommunications operators by the government. Various opinions were also exchanged on institutional improvements and support measures through amendments to related laws such as the Telecommunications Network Act and the Act on the Protection of Information and Communications Infrastructure to practically strengthen the cybersecurity systems of telecommunications operators.

Vice Minister Park said, “Establishing a robust cybersecurity prevention and response system for major telecommunications operators closely related to people’s livelihoods is a very important task. The government will strengthen simulated penetration training for telecommunications operators and accelerate the introduction of new security systems such as the zero-trust model.” He added, “Based on the discussions at the meeting, I ask that the importance of cybersecurity be seriously recognized and that a high level of security system be established and maintained for the stability of citizens’ lives and the nation.”

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