Evaluating South Korea’s Cybersecurity Governance: A Multistakeholder Approach Amid North Korean Cyber Threats

Abstract

This paper investigates South Korea’s cybersecurity governance framework from a multistakeholder governance perspective, a global cyberspace governance framework that has been widely used. As one of the most digitally connected nations and a primary target for cyber threats in the Asia-Pacific region, South Korea must assess whether its current cybersecurity governance is able to address the increasing risks in cyberspace, especially those from North Korea. The author analyzes two dominant frameworks of global cyberspace governance: a traditional state-centric approach and a multistakeholder framework. Through analysis of policy documents, institutional arrangements, and cybersecurity practices, this paper argues that South Korea’s cybersecurity governance remains predominantly state-centric, limiting its effectiveness in addressing North Korean cyber threats. While the structural elements of a multistakeholder model are present, it fails to fully recognize non-state actors as key stakeholders in policy making and engage with them effectively.