On Monday, the government announced plans to relocate 96 computer systems, which were completely destroyed in the fire at the National Information Resources Service (NIRS), to the Daegu Public-Private Cloud Center. The entire process is expected to take four weeks: two weeks for preparing resources and two weeks for system construction. However, they are also exploring options to expedite this timeline through cooperation with resident companies.
At a press briefing in the Government Sejong Office, Deputy Minister Kim Min-jae reported that as of noon on Monday, 62 out of 647 affected systems had been restored, including 16 (44.4%) of the highest-priority systems. He explained that they’ve prioritized restoring essential services such as postal and financial operations at post offices and the Government 24 system, anticipating increased demand before the Chuseok holiday.
Regarding recovery efforts at the Daejeon Center, Kim stated that they have deployed all available government personnel and project teams on-site. They are systematically reactivating computer rooms from the 1st to the 6th floors, which experienced less fire damage. He added that the computer room on the 5th floor will resume operations after dust removal. Given the specialized nature of the server equipment, they expect expert firms to require 1–2 weeks for the work.
For the 96 systems that are likely to experience prolonged issues, the government is operating offline windows and alternative sites.
Deputy Minister Kim elaborated that they are handling public inquiries through in-person assistance and mail submissions for services such as the National Complaint Center and Integrated Veterans Affairs. For the National Legislation Information Center, they are directing users to alternative legislative information websites. He also announced extended payment deadlines, including for September’s property tax, and the waiver of all fees for offline issuances.
To further mitigate inconvenience, they are enhancing guidance on alternative services through the 110 and 120 complaint call centers and major web portals like Naver and Daum. Each agency will also operate its own dedicated support team.
There had been a recommendation to replace the battery, but we believed it could continue functioning for another 1 to 2 years.
The subsequent question and answer (Q&A) session addressed concerns regarding data backup and potential loss, management of aging battery replacement cycles, delays in implementing redundancy measures, the reasons behind postponing the Gongju Center’s opening, and security issues related to private cloud transfers.
Lee Jae-yong, head of the NIRS, responded to criticisms regarding the failure to replace the battery that triggered the fire. He clarified that they actually received a replacement recommendation last year. The recommended period had already passed, which triggered the recommendation message. They anticipated that the battery could continue to function for another 1–2 years. However, this incident has prompted them to strictly adhere to the recommended usage periods for all battery products, regardless of their apparent condition.
In response to questions concerning the government’s lack of preventive measures compared to the redundancy efforts in the private sector by companies like Kakao and Naver, Lee explained that redundancy can be implemented at various levels, such as active-active and active-standby. The complex interconnections of government systems and substantial budgetary requirements necessitate a phased approach. The fire occurred while they were finalizing a model based on research for future investments.
Lee firmly refuted allegations that unqualified workers were involved in the battery replacement, stating that it is incorrect, further noting that the technician is qualified and was also injured in the incident.
Addressing security concerns regarding private cloud transfers, he emphasized that they are applying the same national-level security standards by sharing NIRS security facilities with private entities. This approach enables them both to expedite the process and to maintain robust security measures.
In conclusion, the government pledged to enhance transparency throughout the recovery process and to strengthen efforts to prevent cybercrime exploitation.
Deputy Minister Kim stated that they are intensifying monitoring efforts in coordination with law enforcement and relevant agencies to prevent online fraud, such as smishing schemes that exploit notifications related to the incident. They deeply apologize for the inconvenience caused and are committed to achieving a swift recovery and stabilization.
