On Friday, May 31, Sejong Institute participated in the 2024 Jeju Forum session titled “Digital Connectivity Under Threat: Attacks on Submarine Cables and Countermeasures”. 

The session began with opening remarks by Sang Hyun Lee, President of the Sejong Institute, and a keynote speech from Min Chang, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul.

The session analyzed the growing number of intentional attacks on submarine telecommunications cables, which make up more than 95% of the international telecommunications network, and discussed the potential conflicts and implications of submarine cables in the Indo-Pacific region from a security perspective. It also explored ways to build national and trans-regional cooperation and global governance on protection and recovery measures against attacks on submarine cables, which can come in various forms and for various purposes, and alternatives to dependence on submarine cables.

In particular, the possibility that an attack on a submarine cable could lead to international eavesdropping, data theft, and disruption of military communications was discussed from a cybersecurity perspective and countermeasures were discussed. Finally, the possibility that an intentional attack on a submarine cable in the Indo-Pacific region could lead to a military crisis in the region was also discussed, as well as ways to coordinate among regional alliances and partner countries to control the crisis. ​