Enactment of the ‘Cybersecurity Ordinance’ to Counter Cyber Threats
(Seoul = News1) Reporter Kwon Hye-jung = The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 24th that it will enact and enforce the ‘Seoul Metropolitan Cybersecurity Ordinance’ starting on the 29th to counter increasingly sophisticated cyber threats stemming from the advancement of AI technology and the expansion of digital services.
The ordinance serves as an institutional foundation to enhance cybersecurity capabilities for both the Seoul government and its affiliated organizations, and to establish an integrated response system among these agencies.
Since July of last year, the Seoul government has created the Information Security Department, a dedicated organization for information security, to build a proactive and resilient cybersecurity system. With the enactment of this ordinance, Seoul now has a more robust institutional framework in place.
This ordinance follows the ‘Seoul Metropolitan Digital Disaster Preparedness and Response Ordinance’ established last March and aims to expand Seoul’s digital safety policy through a dual-track system of ‘citizen protection + administrative network protection.’
Recently, the impact of cyber threats has been rapidly increasing. According to the Korea Internet & Security Agency, the number of reported private sector incidents in the first half of 2025 was 1,034, a 15% increase compared to the same period last year. Public institution networks are also continually targeted by attacks.
If the internal administrative network of Seoul is exposed to attacks, services such as civil complaints, transportation, welfare, and safety could simultaneously cease, directly impacting citizens. Therefore, beyond simple technical responses, establishing an institutional safety net has become urgent.
The ordinance focuses on systematically supporting all cybersecurity tasks across Seoul’s institutions. To strengthen accountability, cyber security managers and deputy managers are to be appointed in each agency. This structure allows for independent and clear implementation of cybersecurity tasks and enables direct management and supervision of each agency’s cybersecurity level.
Following the ordinance’s announcement, Seoul will progressively implement a detailed roadmap. In October, they plan to hold briefings for affiliated agencies to share the ordinance’s purpose and direction, as well as guide each agency’s responsibilities and obligations.
Next year, they will establish a five-year basic plan to present long-term cybersecurity policy goals and initiatives for Seoul and its affiliated organizations.
Kang Ok-hyeon, Director of Seoul’s Digital City Bureau, stated, “Based on this ordinance, we will raise the cybersecurity level of all Seoul agencies and strengthen proactive response capabilities through public-private cooperation,” adding, “Ultimately, we aim to provide uninterrupted digital services that citizens can use with confidence.”