Contec establishes a new "Space Security Technology Headquarters" and hires Hong Seok-hee, former Dean of Korea University's Graduate School of Information Security.

Contec, a total solutions company specializing in the space industry, announced on the 16th that it has established a ‘Space Security Technology Headquarters’ to secure next-generation space data security technology and has hired Hong Seok-hee, former Dean of Korea University’s Graduate School of Information Security, as its head.

Director Hong Seok-hee is an expert in cryptography and information security. He received his Ph.D. in Cryptography from Korea University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Leuven in Belgium. He later served as a professor and director of the Graduate School of Information Security at Korea University and has published over 150 papers in SCI-level journals and international conferences. He was particularly involved in the development of HIGHT, the world's standard block encryption technology, and has served in various advisory and committee positions at organizations such as the National Intelligence Service, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and the Korea Information Security Society. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Space Security Research Group under the Korea Information Security Society.

Through the establishment of this new space security technology headquarters, Contec plans to secure technologies for all aspects of space data security, including satellite-ground station data encryption, quantum-resistant cryptography (PQC) and quantum key distribution (QKD)-based communication, and space data integrity verification technology.

Founded in 2015, Contec provides solutions for the entire space industry, including satellite operations, ground station services, and satellite image analysis. To date, the company has built and operates a network of 15 ground stations in 11 countries worldwide. This year, the company continues to expand its global network, strengthening its position in the space industry.

“As the commercialization of the space industry progresses, data security is becoming an essential element,” said Lee Seong-hee, CEO of Contec. “Despite the fact that domestic related technologies are still in their infancy, Contec will strengthen its global competitiveness through proactive response.”

• See more related articles