PM apologizes for state service disruptions after fire at data center

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok presides over a meeting with related ministers to discuss measures to rstore state service disruption caused by a fire at a state-run data center, in Seoul, Saturday. Yonhap

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok apologized Saturday for government service disruptions following a fire at a state-run data center and vowed to restore affected services quickly.

A fire broke out at the national data infrastructure center in the central city of Daejeon on Friday, leaving one injured and halting hundreds of online government services.

The lithium battery fire broke out at the National Information Resources Service at about 8:20 p.m. Friday and was brought under control early Saturday morning.

Due to the fire, 647 online government services, including the mobile identification system and the online government platform for complaints and petitions, have been suspended.

"I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused by the service malfunction," Kim said, adding the government will work to restore affected services.

The prime minister said deadlines for tax payments and others will be extended to minimize any inconvenience.