South Korea’s cloud industry is more lively than ever before, as the country has adopted world’s first cloud-specific law that aims to invigorate cloud computing in the country.
OpenGov spoke to Professor Park Choon Sik, the Chairman of Cloud Computing Centre at Seoul Women’s University and Korea Fast Identity Online (FIDO) Industry Forum, which was established in 2015 to facilitate healthy development of ICT industry and new technology in FIDO in the era of Pintech and IoT.
He is currently working with Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, and Ministry of the Interior to implement the cloud law whose purpose is to promote the use of cloud technology.
Park comments that Korean government has been taking the necessary steps to encourage advancement of cloud system in Korea. Those in this area believe that South Korea is lagging behind its counterparts around the world
Recently, the Korean Government announced that they will move 750 government services to the cloud by 2017. This will reduce in a cost savings of over $32 million by adopting cloud for government services.
“The fact that world’s first cloud-specific law was passed in Korea reflects government’s strong will to boost cloud industry in Korea,” Dr Park told us.
When asked what he thinks are the reasons for the slow development of cloud computing in South Korea, he told us why South Korean companies are hesitant to engage in cloud services, as they are sceptical about the safety of using cloud information storage system.
“They fear losing information to competitors or foreign countries as a result of mismanagement of the data. This is particularly so when most cloud servers are managed outside country,” Dr. Park stated, “There are also several visible loopholes in government laws that regulate protection of confidential information, which lowers user confidence.”
In its effort to promote cloud industry, the Korean government needs to overcome several major hurdles. South Korea needs to instil confidence in businesses by loosening red tapes and fostering public and private sector environment conducive to the spread of cloud servicing system.
“Once cloud is more commonly used in the public sector, it will be easier for businesses to join the government,” Dr Park said.
Nonetheless, Dr Park is optimistic about the government’s target to increase the country’s cloud use by ten times by 2018. He believes it is possible the country’s cloud capacity will increase now that Korean companies are now tapping on areas that they believe to show potential.
“Recently, leading cloud companies have launched their cloud service in Korea, which strongly indicates foreign companies’ interest in venturing into Korean market,” Dr. Park stated, “In order to invigorate the industry, the government needs to loosen its rigid policies that hinder adoption of cloud services while introducing a certification system which will encourage businesses harness the benefits of cloud system.”
On a final note, he emphasised the importance of advertisement and marketing. Promoting examples of best practices, and focusing on keywords such as efficiency and innovation, will likely to increase awareness of cloud and assist rapid spread of the technology.