LGU+ Achieves Korea's First Quantum Communication Encryption Equipment Certification... Targeting Public and Financial Institutions

Acquired Security Function Confirmation Certificate from Korea Information and Communication Technology Association
Hybrid Method Combining Modern Cryptography... Enhanced Security
"Efforts to Advance and Spread Public Quantum-Resistant Cryptography"

LG Uplus announced on the 20th that its optical transmission equipment (Q-ROADM) with quantum communication encryption functionality has obtained a security function confirmation certificate from the Korea Information and Communication Technology Association (TTA) after passing the National Intelligence Service's security verification system.

An LG Uplus employee is presenting the Security Function Verification Certificate obtained from the Korea Information and Communication Technology Association. Photo by LG Uplus

The security verification system is a security verification framework implemented since April last year by the National Intelligence Service in cooperation with the Ministry of Science and ICT to distribute and activate secure quantum cryptography communication equipment to national and public institutions.

The optical transmission equipment that obtained the security function confirmation certificate this time features enhanced security through a hybrid encryption method combining modern cryptography and post-quantum cryptography (PQC) according to the supplementary requirements for national institutions.

This is the first time in Korea that encryption equipment capable of using post-quantum cryptography has passed the security verification system. Therefore, it is expected that the introduction of quantum cryptography equipment will be activated in public institutions, financial institutions, and others that are required to use products issued with the security function confirmation certificate.

The security verification system requires certification for each equipment such as ▲ quantum key distribution equipment ▲ quantum key management equipment ▲ quantum communication encryption equipment. However, LG Uplus's quantum communication encryption equipment has implemented the generation of encryption keys, encryption key management, and encryption, which each equipment must certify, all within a single device.

Previously, LG Uplus collaborated with Cryptolab, which possesses core technology for post-quantum cryptography, to develop algorithms since 2018 and developed optical transmission equipment applying post-quantum cryptography technology in 2020. They also equipped the optical transmission equipment with technology that generates unpredictable random numbers from a quantum random number generator and creates encryption keys using post-quantum cryptography algorithms.

In cooperation with the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Information Society Agency, LG Uplus launched a corporate-exclusive network product in April 2022 that enhances security by additionally applying algorithms from the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) alongside domestic post-quantum cryptography algorithms.

LG Uplus plans to accelerate the expansion of the domestic post-quantum cryptography market. In line with the plan to establish a national post-quantum cryptography verification system, it will cooperate in domestic standards and test verification to verify algorithms excluded from this certification. It will also diversify quantum-dedicated lines tailored to B2B customers and strengthen algorithm-based post-quantum cryptography security through collaboration with universities and research institutes.

Kwon Yong-hyun, head of LG Uplus's enterprise division, said, "We expect that the acquisition of the security function confirmation certificate will accelerate the adoption of communication equipment applying post-quantum cryptography technology by public institutions," adding, "We will continue to strive as a market-leading business to advance and spread post-quantum cryptography in the domestic market."