South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) said on June 19 that a Daegu-North Gyeongsang consortium was finally selected in a 2026 call for proposals for the "regional hub information security cluster building project".

The regional hub information security cluster is a project 추진 aimed at easing gaps among regions in information security companies and talent, and at building a region-based information security industry ecosystem and strengthening self-reliance. Two clusters are currently operating in the Southeast region (Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang) and the Chungcheong region (Sejong, Daejeon, South Chungcheong, and North Chungcheong).

The ministry previously held an open call for proposals targeting local governments in mega-regions. After onsite and presentation reviews, it finally selected the Daegu-North Gyeongsang consortium, comprising Daegu Metropolitan City, North Gyeongsang Province, the Daegu Digital Innovation Promotion Agency, Pohang Technopark, the Korea Robot Industry Promotion Agency and the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement.

The regional hub information security cluster will receive a total of 10 billion won in state funds through 2030, including 2 billion won this year. With a 100 percent match from local funds, the project will be carried out on a total scale of 20 billion won.

Lim Jeong-gyu (임정규), director general for information security and network policy at the ministry, said, "We will continue policy support that reflects on-the-ground demand so that we can raise regional information security capabilities and strengthen industrial competitiveness."