Seoul: The South Korean government announced a comprehensive inspection of information technology systems across public, financial, and telecommunications sectors as part of its cybersecurity measures. The initiative follows recent data breaches reported by major mobile carriers.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Ministry of Science and ICT, along with other related ministries, declared in a joint press release that the inspection aims to address public anxiety over hacking. Around 1,600 IT systems will be scrutinized, including 288 public infrastructure facilities, 152 administrative institutions, 261 financial companies, and 949 telecommunications and platform operators.
The government intends to implement stricter inspection methods for telecom companies by simulating real-world hacking scenarios. This decision follows significant data breaches involving SK Telecom Co., KT Corp., and Lotte Card Co., which have raised concerns about the safety of the nation's financial and mobile network infrastructure.
To enhance the cybersecurity framework, authorities will establish a coordinated response system among relevant agencies to streamline investigations and preventive measures. Additionally, regulations will be amended to permit on-site investigations without prior notice, aimed at preventing the concealment of cyber intrusion incidents by companies.
Penalties for security obligation violations will be intensified, targeting delayed reporting of hacking incidents, failure to implement recurrence prevention measures, and repeated data leaks. Furthermore, the government plans to mandate all listed firms to disclose their cybersecurity expenditures.