Lapses in security

The Central Government Complex in downtown Seoul has reported a break-in due to lax security. A man in his 60s sailed through the triple security system -- the guard of the back gate, the security in the entrance, and the security gate – with little difficulty. The lax security guard failed to detect the man, who used a fake ID with a different design. The security system did not work. Though the breach occurred on a weekend, a hole on weekends means it remains on weekdays. However strong a chain might be, one broken ring can trigger disaster.

No one deterred the man, who wandered to the seventh and 18th floors of the complex with gas-filled bottles in his backpack. He sprayed gas and set fire to the building but the damage was fortunately limited. The government needs to upgrade the security system of its buildings scattered across the country. Since the government’s telecommunication network is interconnected, a glitch at a ministry could lead to the collapse of the entire network.

Lapses in security have been found in the government and society. Earlier this month, a North Korean soldier crossed the eastern frontline and tried to reach guard posts and guards. After no response, he knocked on the door of a barrack where soldiers were living. This was a classic example of a hole in the frontline. This is never excusable given that barbed wire, observation posts and surveillance cameras are installed on the border. The “knock-knock defection” scandal has turned into a buzzword ridiculing the military’s loose vigilance.

The incident at the government complex and lax vigilance at the border seem related to the lack of discipline of government officials. No one knows what will happen if officials, who seem only interested in who will be the next president, fail to do their jobs properly with the end of President Lee Myung-bak’s term just four months away. The administration should show determination in maintaining the discipline of government officials.

The Defense Ministry called the defection a failure in vigilance operation and punished 15 people, including stripping three of their posts. Merely reprimanding those responsible for an incident related to military discipline cannot alleviate the people`s fears over national security. Mental rearmament is necessary along with military reform. In the run-up to South Korea`s presidential election in December, North Korea is showing signs of provocation to intervene. North Korea has even threatened media outlets that criticize the communist regime. The government must show the will to maintain a tight defense and public order.