[2025 Audit] Lee Hojoong Apologizes for National Information Resources Fire Disruptions...Vows to Redesign Management Framework

“We Will Mobilize All Resources to Restore the System”
Emphasizing AI Government, Overcoming Regional Decline, and Disaster Response

Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Hojoong apologized for the system disruptions caused by the fire at the National Information Resources Service and announced plans to establish measures to prevent recurrence and to redesign the system management framework in the future.

On October 14, during the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee audit, Minister Lee stated, “I sincerely apologize for the significant inconvenience caused to the public due to multiple information system failures resulting from the fire at the National Information Resources Service on September 26. We will mobilize every available resource to restore the systems as quickly as possible.”

Yonhap News Agency

Minister Lee continued, “We are committed to stabilizing national information systems and strengthening the foundation for an AI-driven democratic government. For the national information systems damaged by the fire, we will ensure optimal restoration by considering recovery conditions and the impact on the public. At the same time, we will work with relevant agencies to establish measures to prevent recurrence and to redesign the system management framework.”

He also expressed his determination to overcome the crisis of regional decline. Minister Lee said, “To address the imminent risk of regional extinction, we will give preferential treatment to non-capital regions in fiscal projects and local tax exemptions. We will also continue to review, together with relevant ministries, ways to provide greater autonomy in resource expansion and fiscal management for local governments.”

He added, “To realize genuine local autonomy, we will strengthen residents’ participation and choice, while promoting the introduction of the ‘National Council for Decentralization and Balanced Growth’ to firmly establish a partnership between central and local governments.”

Next, Minister Lee discussed measures to enhance disaster response capabilities. He said, “By enacting the ‘Basic Act on Life and Safety,’ we will establish the state’s fundamental responsibility to protect the lives and safety of the people, and we will improve the management system for social disasters to prepare for unpredictable new and complex disasters. We will also utilize advanced technologies such as AI to enhance disaster and accident prediction and situation management.”

He further stated, “We will strengthen the foundation for social integration by fully supporting the protection of rights and recovery assistance for victims of social disasters and catastrophes, and we will address historical issues with a future-oriented approach.”

Minister Lee concluded, “As the ministry responsible for ensuring the happiness and safety of the people, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety will do its utmost to fulfill its responsibilities and roles in building an AI-driven democratic government, advancing local autonomy and balanced growth, ensuring public safety, and promoting social integration.”