Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon said discussions on response measures were being led by the National Security Office following the president's instruction to review a “cybersecurity czar” body. Regarding concerns over US data center regulation, Bae stressed that South Korea should not allow market sentiment to lead it to stop investing in AI.
Speaking to reporters after the third plenary meeting of the National AI Strategy Committee at Seoul Square on November 6, Bae said, “Because this is a matter the president directly instructed us to address, we are considering how to mount a comprehensive response across ministries.”
At a Cabinet meeting on November 3, President Lee Jae-myung instructed officials to actively review the establishment of a “cybersecurity czar” body to oversee and coordinate security functions dispersed across the public and private sectors. Lee also called for a system to detect signs of hacking in advance and share them with relevant agencies for a response.
According to Bae, the National Security Office is leading the response discussions, while the Prime Minister's Office is also reviewing options. Bae explained that there is consensus on the need for a national cybersecurity response framework, but bringing the private sector, government and military together requires consultation among multiple agencies.
“The National Security Office is leading this,” Bae said. “Wide-ranging discussions are needed among the presidential office, the Prime Minister's Office and ministries.”
Defensive technologies to counter AI attacks are also being prepared. Bae said a security AI model was being developed to respond to cyberattacks using AI.
On AI investment, Bae expressed the position that investment should continue despite US moves toward regulation. Bae expected related investment to continue as major technology companies seek to create new industries and services through AI.
Calls for regulation have recently increased in the United States over data centers' electricity and water use and the burden on residents. Uncertainty over related investment increased after Democrat Gina Hinojosa, who pledged to halt approvals for new data centers, won the Texas gubernatorial election.
Bae explained that China, France, Canada and other countries were looking for opportunities to improve their AI competitiveness while the United States slowed down. Bae argued that South Korea should likewise continue investing rather than be discouraged by overseas regulation and market fluctuations.
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“Even if the United States slows down, China, France and Canada are instead treating it as an opportunity,” Bae said. “In this situation, I do not think South Korea should be swept up in the prevailing sentiment and stop investing.”
Original Korean article: ZDNet Korea
English brief by Korea Wind Intelligence, koreawindintel.com
