[2025 National Audit] "Aging Security Equipment at Korea Customs Service Raises Cybersecurity Concerns"

Concerns have been raised about a potential 'gap' in cybersecurity due to the aging of security equipment at the Korea Customs Service.

According to data submitted by Assemblyman Chung Ilyoung of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Assembly's Strategy and Finance Committee, on October 14, out of 97 units across 29 types of security equipment currently operated by the Korea Customs Service, 17 units from 9 types have exceeded their designated service life and are classified as outdated.

The service life refers to the economically and effectively usable period of equipment with minimal repair costs, as determined and announced by the head of the Public Procurement Service in accordance with the "Goods Management Act." Generally, equipment that has exceeded its service life is considered obsolete.

In particular, the "Wireless Threat Blocking System," a core defense device against cyberattacks, has been in use for 11 years since its introduction in 2014, exceeding its 7-year service life. The "Integrated Log Analysis System" and the "Malicious Site Blocking System" have also been in use for 9 years since their introduction in 2016, without replacement.

The problem is that attempted cyberattacks against the Korea Customs Service have surged nearly sixfold over the past two years. While there were 513 attempted cyberattacks in 2023, the number jumped to 2,913 last year, a 5.7-fold increase. Already, from January to August this year, there have been 1,119 incidents.

The types of attacks are also becoming more sophisticated and diverse, including web access attempts, scanning, unauthorized access, DDoS attacks, and the use of malicious software.

Experts emphasize that, in the case of cybersecurity equipment, technological up-to-dateness is more important than simple physical durability. In other words, the latest security equipment and technology are directly linked to enhanced security.

Given this, equipment that has exceeded its service life may struggle to respond to the latest threat information and could become vulnerable to cyberattacks due to diminished detection and blocking capabilities.

Assemblyman Chung stated, "Cybersecurity equipment is not merely an administrative asset, but serves as a 'digital shield' at the forefront of national cybersecurity." He stressed, "The government must recognize the current surge in cyberattacks and conduct a thorough review of security budgets and equipment replacement cycles."

He also added, "As a core agency for national logistics and customs clearance, even a single security incident at the Korea Customs Service could have a negative impact on the entire national economy. It is essential to thoroughly protect citizens' information and national systems by inspecting the entire cybersecurity framework and expanding the budget."

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