Rehabilitated student hackers are being recruited by the government to fight on-line vandalism, which has become a serious problem in Korea. Computer security is generally weak, even at big companies and government agencies, and savvy hackers use cutting-edge technologies.
Ordinary citizens are also targets.
Overall, hack attacks have risen to 1,238 cases so far this year, up from 572 cases in 1999. Most of the culprits are young people who don't seem to feel any guilt about what they've done. The benefits may not be felt immediately, but the government hopes their work could lead to breakthrough computer-security technologies. It also keeps the nation's youngest and brightest tech stars out of mischief. In January, the ministry sent out a nationwide call to Korean universities asking for the help of campus hacker groups.