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ICT ministry faces increased cyberattacks from China

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By Jun Ji-hye

The number of cyberattacks by Chinese hackers on the ICT ministry and its research arms has surged in recent years amid intensifying competition between Korea and China in semiconductors and other high-tech industrial sectors, according to a lawmaker and cyber security experts, Monday.

Rep. Song Hee-kgyoung of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party said the number of cyberattacks on the Ministry of Science and ICT and its affiliates has doubled every year since 2017.

Citing data submitted by the ministry, Song said the total number of cyberattacks amounted to 1,113 in 2017 and increased to 2,456 in 2018.

This year, the number of attacks stood at 3,236 as of Aug. 31, and the figure is expected to reach 4,860 by the end of the year.

Looking at the origins of the attacks, the number conducted by domestic hackers has consistently decreased from 2,379 in 2015 to 386 in 2018.

On the other hand, attacks by Chinese hackers have increased sharply from 32 in 2015 to 912 in 2018. The figure continued to increase this year to 1,063 as of Aug. 31.

In regards to types of attacks, Song said those attempting to steal or destroy data increased 13 times to 1,095 in 2018 compared to the previous year.

"Cyberattacks have threatened the nation's national security and competitive power," Rep. Song said. "I will thoroughly examine the issue during the upcoming National Assembly inspection of government offices."

Lim Jong-in, a professor at the Graduate School of Information Security at Korea University, attributed the surge in cyberattacks conducted by Chinese hackers to increasing competition between Korea and China in high-tech industries such as semiconductors, televisions and home appliances.

"Chinese hackers have long been suspected of stealing industrial technologies in the United States," Lim said. "Likewise, the hackers are believed to be attempting to steal Korea's advanced intellectual properties by conducting cyberattacks on the ICT ministry and its research units that study and develop future technologies."

The professor said cyberattacks are utilized for various goals including political, industrial and military purposes, thus it is not easy for a single ministry to cope with the threats.

"In particular, Chinese hackers, mostly working with the government, possess high-level capabilities," he said. "In April, Cheong Wa dae announced strategies to enhance the nation's cyber capabilities, which call for cooperation among related ministries. The government needs to promptly allocate a budget to implement those strategies."


Jun Ji-hye jjh@koreatimes.co.kr


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