Korea mulls creation of cross-gov't cybersecurity command

President Lee Jae Myung has ordered an examination of proposals to create a government-wide cybersecurity agency, aimed at coordinating responses to increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks, as intelligence agencies conduct security reviews across public institutions. In a Cabinet meeting, Lee emphasized that cyberattacks now pose significant risks to individual well-being, the economy, and national security.

He proposed establishing a government-wide response body that would encompass both public and private sectors. Lee urged officials to consider appointing a powerful "cybersecurity czar" to oversee security functions currently dispersed among various agencies. He cited the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) as the primary driver of the heightened threat landscape, highlighting the need for early detection, information sharing, and preemptive action to mitigate the impact of cyberattacks.