Gov't to review security at over 170 critical telecom, internet facilities
Summary
The government plans to review security at more than 170 critical information infrastructure facilities managed by 111 private-sector organizations in South Korea on Wednesday. The Ministry of Science and ICT will examine how operators identify and address vulnerabilities in internet-facing assets, including servers and web pages, amid cyber breaches across the financial sector. The review follows President Lee Jae Myung’s order to strengthen safeguards and is expected to include checks informed by recent breaches. The ministry aims to complete its review of organizations’ self-assessment findings as early as November.
Key Facts
- The facilities are designated under the Act on the Protection of Information and Communications Infrastructure because disruptions could significantly harm national security, the economy or society.
- The facilities include telecommunications and internet data center systems run by SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus.
- The ministry plans to supplement routine inspections with a checklist reflecting causes of recent breaches at financial institutions and conduct targeted checks of internet-facing assets.
- The presidential office convened an emergency meeting later Wednesday, chaired by Song Ki-ho, vice chief of the National Security Office at Cheong Wa Dae, with Financial Services Commission officials attending.
People are seen near ATMs operated by various banks in Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap
The government plans to review security at more than 170 critical information infrastructure facilities managed by 111 private-sector organizations, officials said Wednesday, as cyber breaches continued across the financial sector.
The checks follow President Lee Jae Myung’s order to strengthen safeguards across core national systems as suspected artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted attacks have spread across most major financial segments since a breach at Shinhan Bank was reported to authorities on Sept. 30.
The facilities are designated under the Act on the Protection of Information and Communications Infrastructure because disruptions could significantly harm national security, the economy or society. They include telecommunications and internet data center systems run by SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus.
The Ministry of Science and ICT will focus on how operators identify and address vulnerabilities in internet-facing assets, including servers and web pages. The review comes amid concerns that inadequately managed external access points may have enabled recent financial sector breaches.
The ministry said it will supplement routine inspections with a checklist reflecting the causes of recent breaches at financial institutions and conduct targeted checks of internet-facing assets.
It aims to complete its review of the organizations’ self-assessment findings as early as November.
Meanwhile, the presidential office convened an emergency meeting later in the day to coordinate its response to the latest cyberattacks.
Song Ki-ho, vice chief of the National Security Office at Cheong Wa Dae, chaired the meeting, which was attended by officials from the Financial Services Commission.
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