10.10.2025 09:51
South Korea is facing one of the biggest crises in its digital history. A battery-related fire at the National Information Resources Service (NIRS) data center completely destroyed the government's 858 terabyte digital archive. Authorities stated that there were no backups in the system and that the data has been irretrievably deleted.
The fire at the National Information Resources Service (NIRS) data center in Daejeon, South Korea, has caused the largest digital data loss in the country's history. Authorities announced that approximately 858 terabytes (TB) of government data were permanently deleted due to a fire that started with the explosion of lithium-ion batteries.
The fire quickly spread to the server room and was only brought under control the next day. During this time, the government cloud system called "G-Drive," where public employees stored their documents and files, completely collapsed. The system, known as "Government Drive," provided each civil servant with 30 GB of personal storage space. However, it was revealed that due to the size of the system, no backup infrastructure had ever been established, resulting in the irreversible deletion of all data.
96 SYSTEMS OUT OF SERVICE
A total of 96 information systems were completely disabled in the fire. While there were no backups for G-Drive, some of the other systems were able to be recovered with online or offline backups. According to the government's statement, only 193 of the 709 affected networks were restored to operational status — which corresponds to a recovery rate of 27.2%. Experts indicate that it may take weeks to fully repair the system.
INVESTIGATION INITIATED, 4 PEOPLE IN CUSTODY
Authorities announced that temporary systems have been activated to prevent disruptions in public services. However, allegations of negligence are on the agenda. Four individuals, believed to be connected to the fire, have been taken into custody, and a comprehensive investigation has been launched regarding the incident.
The South Korean public describes the incident as "the ashes of digital memory." According to experts, this disaster will not only lead to data loss but also prompt a reevaluation of the country's digital security and backup policies.