Seoul: South Korea’s cybersecurity watchdog is experiencing a workforce shortage as the number of cyber threats reported by local businesses continues to rise, a lawmaker stated. Citing data from the Korea Internet and Security Agency (KISA), Rep. Kim Jang-kyom of the main opposition People Power Party revealed that the watchdog received 1,887 reports of security breaches from South Korean companies in 2024, marking a 47 percent increase from the previous year.

According to Yonhap News Agency, during the January-August period of 2025, the number of breach reports stood at 1,501. Despite the growing number of cyberattacks reported by businesses, the number of response personnel increased to just 132, a rise of only nine individuals since 2022. This indicates a significant gap between the demand for cybersecurity intervention and the available workforce.

Over the same period, South Korea’s budget for hacking and virus response systems rose by 22 percent, reaching 73.6 billion won (US$52.4 million). Rep. Kim Jang-kyom highlighted a concerning discrepancy, stating, “The fact that the number of investigators at KISA increased by a single digit over the years indicates the country lacks readiness against such threats.”

The figures suggest that while financial resources have been allocated to address cyber threats, the issue of manpower remains a critical challenge for the nation’s cybersecurity infrastructure.