The capital of South Korea has enhanced its artificial intelligence security system in an effort to protect its residents from cyber threats.
On September 4, the Seoul government announced a three-year plan to strengthen its AI-based cybersecurity system to protect the city against cyberattacks. This announcement came three months after the city’s official had an interview with The Readable regarding its AI Security Center.
The city has been training AI using cyberattack databases from city-related organizations to develop more effective security operations systems. Seoul disclosed plans to expand its database collection to include external agencies such as the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA), which oversees internet information protection in South Korea, and the Korea Local Information Research and Development Institute (KLID), which develops and operates regional administrative systems and clouds. This expansion aims to enhance accuracy in identifying cyber threats.
According to a press release by the city’s office, this trained database uses AI to automatically respond to the latest security threats in real-time. The city plans to double the database storage size to enhance processing speed and capacity. Additionally, Seoul revealed plans to establish 21 more control towers throughout the city, all of which will be linked to the Seoul AI Security Center to manage and respond to cyber threats in an integrated manner.
Seoul announced that the Seoul Cybersecurity Center will oversee private cloud security to enhance overall cybersecurity.
According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, 864 information systems of local governments in South Korea were using private clouds in 2023. With critical government information systems stored in these private clouds, monitoring their security is becoming increasingly vital. The city stated that it will directly monitor these private clouds and bolster the security of administrative agencies and public institutions closely tied to citizens’ daily lives, ensuring stable and uninterrupted services for the public.
Furthermore, Seoul plans to reinforce cyber drills on critical infrastructure, such as emergency rescue services, traffic signal control systems, heating systems, and water supply facilities. A total of 36 facilities will have a cyber defense system particularly against Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) attacks by 2028.
In addition, building multilateral collaborations across domestic and international entities is included in the city’s latest plan.
“The city of Seoul will continue to advance its cybersecurity infrastructure in order to defend our citizens against new variants of threats, including the ones leveraging AI technology,” said Park Jin-young, Digital City Bureau Director of Seoul, in a statement. “This is an era that the security of city is directly connected to national security,” added the director.
In an interview with The Readable conducted last May, Kim Wan-jip, Director of the Information Communication and Security Division at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, revealed plans to enhance the Seoul AI Security Center by establishing a specialized AI workforce and collaborating with relevant agencies.
Seoul had already integrated AI into its security operations center in September 2023. The director noted that AI achieved a processing speed 200 times faster than that of a human. However, Kim emphasized that “we are trying to train it on threat information to make it even smarter.”
“Cybersecurity is no longer an option. It is necessary infrastructure for city operations,” said Director Kim, “Seoul will actively promote AI-based cybersecurity initiatives to set a new example in cybersecurity in the AI era.”
Related article: Securing Seoul: Frontline insights on AI’s role in defending against cyberattacks
Seoul, the capital of South Korea and home to nearly half of the nation’s population, is a prime target for cybercriminals due to its numerous government organizations and critical infrastructure. However, despite its vulnerability, the city is leveraging the threats leveled against it to its advantage by employing artificial intelligence, a technology that continuously improves the more data it receives.
On May 16, The Readable interviewed Kim Wan-jip, Director of the Information Communication and Security Division at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, to learn how Seoul uses AI to monitor and respond to cyber threats. “The AI Seoul Security Center, which operates around the clock, continuously receives and analyzes incoming external threats, allowing it to provide robust security for the city’s institutions,” said Kim. READ MORE
