How Many Online Government Services Were Restored After the Data Centre Fire in South Korea?
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Synopsis
In a crucial recovery effort, South Korea has restored 91 online government services after a devastating fire at the National Information Resources Service. This article delves into the impact of the fire, the recovery timeline, and the government's commitment to transparency during this challenging period.
Key Takeaways
- 91 online government services have been restored after a fire incident.
- The restoration rate currently stands at 14.1%.
- The fire affected a total of 647 services at the NIRS.
- Full recovery is expected to take at least four weeks.
- The government is committed to transparency in recovery efforts.
Seoul, Sep 30 (NationPress) In a significant development, 91 online government services have successfully been restored following an outage triggered by last week's fire at the state data management agency. This information was confirmed by the government on Tuesday.
The restoration rate has reached 14.1 percent, with 91 out of 647 services impacted by the fire at the National Information Resources Service (NIRS) located in Daejeon, approximately 140 kilometers south of Seoul, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
Among the restored services are 20 out of 36 designated as "Grade 1," which are essential due to their widespread use and importance.
During a press briefing in the central administrative city of Sejong, Vice Interior Minister Kim Min-jae indicated that systems on the second, third, and fourth floors of the NIRS building were reactivated since they were less affected by the blaze, which originated on the fifth floor.
The fire started in server room 7-1, causing damage to 96 systems and subsequently spreading to server rooms 7 and 8, affecting a total of 330 systems, which amounts to just over half.
According to Kim, inspections of local government offices revealed that with the restoration of Gov.kr and unmanned civil application service machines, various public services such as resident registration, seal, and passport services are functioning relatively well despite some minor inconveniences.
However, the Vice Minister acknowledged that there are still unresolved issues with online services related to real estate transactions and social security information systems, promising to keep the public informed about system recoveries and alternative solutions.
The government previously announced plans to release the complete list of the 647 affected services along with recovery strategies. Full recovery is estimated to take at least four weeks, an extension from the initial estimate of two weeks, due to the necessity of relocating the 96 destroyed systems to the NIRS' branch in Daegu.
Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung emphasized during a meeting of the government's Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters that recovery efforts will be conducted transparently.
To alleviate public inconvenience, especially before the extended Chuseok holiday beginning Friday, the government prioritized the restoration of services anticipated to be in high demand, including postal and banking services.
The government portal Gov.kr has also been restored.
A police investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the fire, which was sparked by an explosion of a lithium-ion battery in a server room on the fifth floor of the NIRS and was completely extinguished by Saturday.
Point of View
It is crucial to highlight that while the restoration of government services is a positive step, the ongoing challenges faced by citizens indicate a need for continued vigilance and improvement in crisis management strategies. The government's transparent approach will be essential in regaining public trust.
NationPress
16/11/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the fire at the National Information Resources Service?
The fire was caused by an explosion of a lithium-ion battery in a server room.
How many services were affected by the fire?
A total of 647 services were affected by the fire.
What is the expected timeline for full recovery?
Full recovery is anticipated to take at least four weeks.
Which services have been prioritized for restoration?
Essential services such as postal and banking services have been prioritized for restoration.
Is there an ongoing investigation into the fire?
Yes, a police investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the fire.
