KT Corp named preferred bidder for national information resource innovation strategy project

KT Corp announced Tuesday it has been named the preferred bidder for the National Information Resource Management Agency Innovation Information Strategy Planning (ISP) Project, commissioned by the Ministry of Interior and Safety and the National Information Society Agency (NIA).

The project aims to establish relocation standards for public information systems currently operating at the National Information Resource Management Agency's main center in Daejeon, and to chart an innovation roadmap for the national information resource management framework — covering future data center operations and the expanded use of private-sector cloud services.

KT Corp plans to comprehensively review standards for applying private cloud services to public information systems, data center operational direction and disaster recovery (DR) frameworks, then develop a concrete action strategy for modernizing the national information resource infrastructure.

Through the project, KT Corp will analyze the security levels, criticality and operational characteristics of individual public information systems and assess suitable infrastructure environments for each. Based on that analysis, the company plans to establish system relocation standards, a phased migration roadmap and an architecture for linking with the national information and communications network.

As a first step, KT Corp will develop relocation standards and a phased migration roadmap for 693 information systems operating at the Daejeon headquarters by March next year, taking into account National Network Security Framework (N2SF) ratings and overall system criticality.

Additional core tasks include developing operational alternatives for public data centers and redefining the role of the National Information Resource Management Agency as private cloud use expands. KT Corp will analyze cost-effectiveness, security and stability in tandem, and factor in the domestic IT industry ecosystem, to propose an efficient relocation plan for national public information systems.

KT Corp will also establish an architecture to ensure stable connectivity with the national information and communications network. The company plans to collaborate with firms holding specialized expertise across areas including information system relocation consulting, data center alternatives, next-generation AI infrastructure standards, existing system analysis and security framework implementation, to strengthen the overall quality of the project.

KT Corp has been carrying out the national information and communications network backbone project — a core communications infrastructure for public AI transformation — and has built up capabilities in national critical information infrastructure by winning contracts including the Ministry of Interior and Safety's disaster recovery ISP project.

The company also plans to use the National Information Resource Management Agency innovation ISP project to further strengthen KT Group's AI infrastructure capabilities spanning networks, cloud, data centers and disaster recovery systems.

"This project is an important undertaking that will design a new operational framework and direction for the nation's public AI infrastructure," said Kim Won-tae, executive vice president and head of the public and financial business division at KT Corp's Enterprise unit. "KT Corp will work closely with the Ministry of Interior and Safety and the NIA to contribute to establishing the information strategy plan for the National Information Resource Management Agency and building the foundation for an AI-powered government."