Opening of the Military Crypto Research Center
Its objective is to secure military cryptology fundamental technology and cultivate cryptology experts. 

High expectations in developing the civilian ICT industry and improving the level of countrywide cyber security.

For the purpose of researching military cryptography basic technology, the Military Crypto Research Center was established at Korea University.
* Defense Specialized University Research Center: A program that selects outstanding universities and government-funded research institutes in order to secure key technology in the defense field and to promote the participation of exceptional research personnel in the research development of defense.

The Korea University Military Crypto Research Center was established with the support of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and the Agency for Defense Development with the objectives of securing next generation crypto-based technology, developing crypto processing technology to prepare for physical attacks from crypto equipment, establishing a foundation for crypto evaluation, and securing crypto analysis fundamental technology through the improvement of crypto analysis and strengthening of decryption abilities. 

Military Crypto Research Center is comprised of the crypto-based technology research lab, the crypto processing verification research lab, and the crypto analysis technology lab. The center will receive 14.3 billion Korean Won in research funding over the next six years.

A total of 162 researchers, including 29 of the country’s key cryptography expert professors, from 14 universities including, Korea University, Kookmin University, Kwangwoon University, Sangmyung University, Seoul National University of Technology and Science, University of Seoul, Semyung University, Sejong University,  Sejong Cyber University, Soongsil University, Yonsei University, Chonbuk National University, PyeongTaek University, and Hansung University, will participate in the research center. 

Korea University held an opening and signboard hanging ceremony for the Military Crypto Research Center at the International Center for Converging Technology at 4:00PM on Monday, December 18th.

Minister Jei-guk Jeon of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration attended along with representatives from the Agency for Defense Development, the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality, the Defense Security Command, and Korea Security Research. KU President Jaeho Yeom, Kwan Young Lee (Executive Vice President for Research), Sangjin Lee (Military Crypto Research Center Director) and professors associated with the center represented Korea University in attendance.

President Yeom in his greeting stated, “Korea University quickly recognized the importance of cryptology, and in 2000, established the country’s first ever Graduate School of Information Security. For 17 years, the school has taken up the central role in strengthening Korea’s security abilities through cyber security technology research and cultivating experts. Going forward, with the Korea University spirit of saving the nation through education and putting the public ahead of personal gain, we will successfully operate the Military Crypto Research Center and contribute to the strengthening of our national defense.”

Minister Jeon commented, “We are in a state where security threats increase day by day as new technology is developed. The development of a defense crypto technology is necessary to solve the problems including security vulnerabilities. With the center being established at Korea University, which is already well organized and positioned with the Graduate School of Information Security and the Department of Cyber Defense, I am looking forward to the successful attainment of cutting-edge crypto technology and the cultivation of crypto experts and hope that it makes a leap forward to becoming the world’s best research center.” 

Korea University Professor Sangjin Lee was appointed the director of the center and stated, “With the evolution to a network-centric warfare and cyber warfare environment and the appearance of unmanned mobile weapon systems such as IT-convergent weapon systems and drones, the military’s crypto technology level has become the core indicator of the country’s defense and security level. The establishment of the Military Crypto Research Center is enormously significant from our county’s perspective.”

There are high hopes going forward for the Military Crypto Research Center to not only research various defense-related crypto technologies and to cultivate experts, but to also lead the development of the civilian ICT industry and to contribute to improving the cyber security level across all areas of the country.