{"id":2202231,"date":"2023-09-13T16:34:03","date_gmt":"2023-09-13T07:34:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2202231"},"modified":"2023-09-15T12:15:15","modified_gmt":"2023-09-15T03:15:15","slug":"balancing-convenience-and-security-south-koreas-cybersecurity-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/09\/balancing-convenience-and-security-south-koreas-cybersecurity-challenge\/","title":{"rendered":"Balancing convenience and security: South Korea\u2019s cybersecurity challenge"},"content":{"rendered":"
In the digitally-forward nation of South Korea, where residents expect and have access to high-speed internet, an unexpected paradox comes to light: Despite their robust digital infrastructure, South Koreans display a concerning lack of adherence to basic cybersecurity measures, according to experts.<\/span><\/p>\n A recent NordVPN <\/span>report<\/span><\/a> underscores this issue, revealing South Korea as ranking low in cyber awareness, especially when juxtaposed with nations of comparable internet usage. This position becomes even more alarming when considering the country\u2019s <\/span>history<\/span><\/a> with significant <\/span>cyberattacks<\/span><\/a>. Moreover, the Korea Internet and Security Agency (KISA) <\/span>reported<\/span><\/a> a 78% surge in cyberattacks in 2022 compared to the previous year.<\/span><\/p>\n Experts have consistently sounded warning bells about the consequences of lax adherence to cybersecurity. As the ROK government aims to bolster its defenses in the digital realm, experts argue that the South Korean public must match that commitment, prioritizing cybersecurity in their daily lives.<\/span><\/p>\n ACTIONS, PRIORITIES AND STRUGGLES<\/b><\/p>\n KISA <\/span>announced<\/span><\/a> it had earmarked a budget of $19.2 million (25.5 billion won) to fortify the nation\u2019s cybersecurity in late August. A significant portion of this fund will go toward enhancing cyber threat detection and prevention capabilities within South Korea. Additionally, KISA plans to explore implementing the Zero Trust security model nationwide, which would mandate device authentication before allowing network access.<\/span><\/p>\n This financial commitment follows South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol\u2019s earlier <\/span>appeal<\/span><\/a> to overhaul the nation\u2019s cyber capabilities. Rather than merely adopting a defensive stance, Yoon called for those on the front lines of the nation\u2019s cyber defense to <\/span>\u201cdevelop a preemptive and active operation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Yoon\u2019s call for a renewed focus on cybersecurity builds upon initiatives from his predecessor. In 2019, then-President Moon Jae-in introduced the country\u2019s first-ever <\/span>National Cybersecurity Strategy<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n However, the government isn\u2019t the sole catalyst for the nation\u2019s evolving cyber stance. Yoo Joon-sang, a former South Korean lawmaker, has <\/span>helmed<\/span><\/a> the \u201cBest of the Best\u201d initiative for over a decade \u2014 a specialized program that seeks to cultivate the next wave of cybersecurity professionals.<\/span><\/p>\n Yet even with these strides, a recurrent theme emerges in South Korean cyber analyses: the public\u2019s apparent neglect of basic cybersecurity guidelines. The NordVPN report, which reverberated throughout South Korea\u2019s <\/span>tech media sector<\/span><\/a>, is merely the latest instance of experts voicing concerns about the South Korean public\u2019s cybersecurity knowledge.<\/span><\/p>\n Research<\/span><\/a> by Boston University and Seoul National University scholars posits that this knowledge gap among South Koreans exacerbates the country\u2019s vulnerabilities to cyber-attacks. A 2019 assessment also <\/span>spotlighted<\/span><\/a> South Korea\u2019s low prioritization and lackluster performance in cybersecurity education.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cPeople often perceive cybersecurity solutions as primarily technical,\u201d Kim Seung-hyun, an information systems professor at Yonsei University, told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>. \u201cThe public’s perception of cybersecurity is one of being \u201cinconvenient or costly.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEven though there\u2019s a saying, \u2018Cybersecurity is only as strong as its weakest link,\u2019 many fail to realize that. Ultimately, it\u2019s a collective responsibility.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Recognizing this challenge, South Korea\u2019s National Cybersecurity Strategy emphasizes enhancing public education on cybersecurity matters.<\/span><\/p>\n