President Lee Jae-myung has called for a comprehensive overhaul of security systems in response to recent personal information leaks in the financial and public sectors, emphasizing the need for adaptation to the era of artificial intelligence (AI). Prime Minister Han Seung-soo also convened a government-wide meeting, directing a complete restructuring of existing security frameworks. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Baek Kyung-hun announced plans to significantly increase the cybersecurity budget to 520 billion won to address cyber incidents.
During a cabinet meeting at the Blue House on October 6, President Lee stated, "There are indications that some hacking incidents have utilized AI, raising significant concerns and anxieties among the public." He urged relevant authorities to swiftly and clearly ascertain the circumstances of the incidents and to mobilize necessary personnel and resources to minimize damage.
Noting that hacking incidents have spread beyond the financial sector to public institutions, he stressed the need to shift from a reactive security system to a proactive prevention framework.
"Hacking methods are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and the scope of damage is expanding beyond comparison to the past," President Lee said. "The government, businesses, and society as a whole must recognize the seriousness of the current situation and maintain heightened vigilance." He added, "It is difficult to adequately respond to evolving cyber threats with only post-incident measures. We must develop capabilities to detect attacks in advance and implement proactive security measures."
He also highlighted the necessity of establishing systems capable of countering AI-driven attacks, stating, "We need to accelerate the development and dissemination of AI technologies specialized in cybersecurity. It is time to completely innovate our security paradigm to align with the AI era." He further emphasized the importance of building sophisticated security infrastructure alongside fostering a strong security awareness.
Earlier that day, Prime Minister Han chaired a meeting at the Government Seoul Building regarding personal information leaks in financial and public institutions, calling for a comprehensive overhaul of security systems at the government level.
Prime Minister Han pointed out that recent attacks are believed to have involved AI and could lead to secondary damages such as phishing. He stressed, "The existing security and inspection systems are inadequate to cope with the current situation, so we must expedite a complete overhaul."
He instructed the Financial Services Commission to accurately assess the scope and causes of the leaked personal information and to ensure that affected financial institutions thoroughly implement customer protection and compensation measures. He also directed the police to swiftly investigate hacking groups in cooperation with relevant agencies.
The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Personal Information Protection Commission were tasked with reviewing their preventive measures and response systems to prevent further leaks in the industry and public sector. Prime Minister Han emphasized that the current personal information protection certification system also needs a comprehensive review.
The Ministry of Science and ICT, the relevant department, also decided to strengthen both budget and systems. During a National Assembly audit on the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Baek responded to a question from People Power Party lawmaker Seo Cheon-ho regarding government accountability for cyber incidents, stating, "We will significantly increase the cybersecurity budget from 360 billion won to 520 billion won to address cyber incidents effectively."
Deputy Prime Minister Baek noted that the revised Telecommunications Business Act, which took effect on October 1, allows investigations based on indications of hacking without corporate reporting, thereby enhancing punitive and economic sanctions. He added, "Although the law has just been implemented and its effectiveness has yet to be seen, we expect it to prove effective in the future," and stated that the Ministry of Science and ICT will standardize incident management and response manuals and take the lead in coordination.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.