[fn Editorial] Painful Lessons from the Shutdown: Urgent Need to Upgrade Our Systems

This network crisis has delivered a major shock and a painful lesson to our society. Although the nation has prided itself on being a global leader in digital government, this incident exposed the fragility of its security systems. While the government is working quickly to identify the root cause, this is not an issue that can be resolved by simply correcting a technical error. The disaster has laid bare the vulnerabilities of our security infrastructure. Experiencing such a significant crisis has provided a clear view of our actual security capabilities. This catastrophe must serve as a turning point to fundamentally overhaul outdated systems and complacent management practices.
Above all, there must be serious consideration of redesigning the cybersecurity control tower. Currently, the management of national networks is fragmented across multiple ministries, leading to overlapping responsibilities. While each agency fulfills its own role, the structure is inefficient for rapid and unified crisis response. This fragmented system contributed to confusion during the initial response, exacerbating the damage.
It is also essential to seriously consider strengthening the security management framework for our networks. Cybersecurity threats such as attacks from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), hacking attempts from China and the Russian Federation, and global ransomware attacks pose grave national security risks. If financial networks are paralyzed, transportation systems halted, or medical services disrupted, the nation’s functions are crippled and citizens’ assets are at risk. This is why these incidents cannot be dismissed as mere technical malfunctions.
It is time to fundamentally shift away from a recovery-focused approach. In an era defined by artificial intelligence (AI), a reactive strategy that only addresses problems after they occur is insufficient to handle complex threats. Building proactive prevention systems is essential. Preemptive action is also far more cost-effective than post-incident recovery. There must be serious consideration of upgrading real-time monitoring systems and introducing AI-based predictive systems to detect anomalies early. Establishing multiple layers of backup is also imperative, ensuring that if one system fails, operations can immediately switch to an alternative.
The inspection methods for outdated equipment must also be modernized. The Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) recently released its 2023 audit results on network paralysis, highlighting the importance of equipment checks. The report pointed out the institutional flaws that delay equipment replacements by extending the service life of aging devices. It also noted the issue of 'ownerless equipment,' where shared devices are deprioritized in budget allocations, and criticized the complacency that led to a seven-hour delay in response despite alerts about equipment failures. These problems were identified two years ago, yet no effective preventive measures were implemented, resulting in another major incident. It is time to break the cycle of repeating the same mistakes year after year, even after official warnings.
It is also time to change our mindset regarding workforce development and budget allocation. The perception of network management staff as mere technical workers must be corrected. Security-related budgets should no longer be viewed as secondary expenses. This crisis is both a challenge and an opportunity. The future of a top-three AI powerhouse and a leading digital nation depends on a robust network infrastructure. We must not forget these lessons and should embark on a comprehensive upgrade of the national network security system.