South Korea’s National Intelligence Network Crippled by Fire: President Demands Answers
Seoul, South Korea – September 28, 2025 – A major fire at the National Intelligence Resources Management Service (NIRMS) facility in Daejeon has brought South Korea’s national administrative network to a standstill, triggering an emergency response led by President Lee Jae-myung. The incident, which occurred on September 26th, has raised serious questions about the nation’s cybersecurity infrastructure and data backup protocols. This is a developing story, and archyde.com is committed to providing the latest updates as they unfold. This breaking news event underscores the growing vulnerability of critical infrastructure to both accidental and malicious disruptions.
President Lee Jae-myung presides over the Central Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting. (Photo: Choi Dong-joon/Newsis)
Emergency Response and Presidential Scrutiny
President Lee Jae-myung immediately convened the Central Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, leading a nearly three-hour emergency meeting on Saturday. The President reportedly expressed strong dissatisfaction with the lack of clear regulations and guidelines governing national information management, stating that relevant ministries appeared to be “driving without a map.” This pointed criticism signals a demand for greater accountability and a thorough review of existing protocols.
The NIRMS facility in Daejeon, which manages approximately 1600 national computer systems, is considered the heart of South Korea’s computer network. The fire, which broke out around 8:15 PM on the 26th, took over 22 hours to contain, leaving a significant portion of the administrative network offline. The disruption has impacted several government ministries, including Science and ICT, Health and Welfare, and Employment and Labor.
Data Backup Concerns and Private Sector Collaboration
A key focus of the emergency meetings was the status of data backups. President Lee pressed officials on the progress of data recovery efforts in Gwangju and Daegu, and demanded a clear explanation of the national information management standards. He also questioned the absence of a double operating system for critical administrative networks, expressing surprise that a system designed for resilience lacked fundamental redundancy.
Recognizing the potential for prolonged disruption, President Lee emphasized the need for collaboration with the private sector. He actively sought insights from cloud computing experts and private data management companies, inquiring about their backup systems, redundancy strategies, and associated budgets. The President also explored the possibility of entrusting information management to the private sector, while simultaneously addressing security concerns and evaluating best practices from overseas.
Addressing Public Inconvenience and Long-Term Systemic Change
Beyond the immediate crisis, President Lee signaled a commitment to fundamental changes in the national information management system. He instructed ministers to explore temporary measures to alleviate public inconvenience, such as waiving civil document issuance fees, as proposed by Kim Dong-yeon. However, he stressed that the current situation presented an opportunity to overhaul the system entirely, ensuring it is robust, resilient, and capable of withstanding future disruptions.
“The cost is not much compared to the pain and difficulties of the people,” President Lee stated, underscoring the importance of investing in a secure and reliable national infrastructure. He urged ministries to prioritize the completion of regulations and guidelines, and to ensure their proper implementation across all levels of government. The President also emphasized the need for a proactive approach to collaboration with the private sector, creating new systems where necessary to enhance cybersecurity and data protection.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of modern infrastructure and the potential consequences of a single point of failure. As South Korea navigates this crisis, the lessons learned will undoubtedly shape its cybersecurity strategy for years to come. For ongoing coverage and in-depth analysis, stay tuned to archyde.com, your source for breaking news and insightful reporting.
The National Intelligence Resources Management Service facility in Daejeon, the site of the fire. (Photo: Choi Dong-joon/Newsis)
