Ministry of Information and Communication Cooperated with Pass 21 for Technology Publicity

The Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) made an agreement with Pass 21 including the terms, `support the publicity` when it introduced the fingerprint verification security system for free.

Yoo Pil-Gye, spokesperson of MIC, announced, "It is acknowledged that the head of the Electronic Data Management Center and the chairperson of Pass 21 concluded an agreement to establish a security system. The agreement specifies that [the Electronic Data Management Center] will cooperate [with Pass 21] for publicity when other organizations requested relevant information in order to promote the venture business."

According to MIC, the 5-page agreement was made between the head of the Electronic Data Management Center (A) and the chairperson of Pass 21 (B). But MIC will not release the original copy of the agreement because the investigation is still in process.

MIC explained that "It is customary for a government office to make an agreement when introducing a facility from private business." However, the terms `support the publicity` seems to go far beyond the custom, anticipating controversy about the agreement.

Mr. Yoo said, "It is not yet certain whether the agreement was reported to then Minister Namgoong Seuk. But usually minor projects such as installation of two fingerprint verification system at the gate of an affiliated organization is not reported to the Minister."

Tae-Han Kim freewill@donga.com