http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/tech/200602/kt2006021517494311780.htm
Korea Plans to Build Linux City, University
By Kim Tae-gyu
Staff Reporter
The Korean government plans to select a city and a university late next
month where open-source software like Linux will become the mainstream
operating programs.
The Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) Wednesday revealed the
scheme of building up the city and university, which will operate as test
beds for the open-source programs.
``We will start to receive applications next week. After screening candidate
cities and universities, the test beds are likely to be decided by late
March,¹¹ MIC director Lee Do-kyu said.
Lee said that the project will be kick-started just after the decision of
the city and university, toward which end the ministry earmarked 4.1 billion
won for this year alone.
``Already many universities and local governments have shown interest in the
project. We expect big-sized entities will join it,¹¹ he added.
The selected government and university will be required to install
open-source software as a main operating infrastructure, for which the MIC
will support with funds and technologies.
In the long run, they will have to migrate most of their desktop and
notebook computers away from the Windows program of Microsoft, the world¹s
biggest maker of software.
``The test beds will prompt other cities and universities to follow suit
through the showcasing of Linux as the major operating system without any
technical glitches and security issues,¹¹ Lee said.
The open-source software refers to an emerging operating system alternative
to the closed-door Windows program of Microsoft, which has flat-out ruled
the global market thus far.
The underlying source codes of the new-type software are basically open to
the public so that programmers from across the world can upgrade them
continually, the strength that the proprietary Windows lacks.
The attempt to create a Linux city is not a first. Munich in Germany plans
to deploy Linux and open-source packages on its 14,000 PCs in place of
Microsoft office automation suites and operating system.
Other cities and governments also look to embrace various open-source
software, which represents freedom and flexibility by nature, to save costs
and increase efficiency.
Korean Move to Linux
In fact, Korea is not a world leader in adopting Linux and other open-source
programs.
Currently, less than 1 percent of desktop PCs are based on Linux in Korea,
much lower than the global median 3 percent. For servers, Linux accounts for
about a fifth of the market here.
The Korea IT Industry Promotion Agency wants to increase the rate to 5
percent for desktop PCs and 40 percent for servers by 2010.
``In order to become a genuine software powerhouse, Korea has no choice but
to secure source technologies. We cannot achieve the goal under the command
of dominant closed-source programs,¹¹ said Ko Hyun-jin, president at the
state-backed agency.
To do so, the government will stage a campaign to use Linux. Korea Post, the
nation¹s postal service provider, last year embarked on a four-year program
to install a Linux-based operating system on 4,748 PCs in its 2,800
branches.
The Ministry of Planning and Budget plans to launch 37 state informatization
projects with Linux this year, which would cost approximately 80 billion
won.
A new online information system for schools, dubbed the National Education
Information System (NEIS), also fixed Linux-empowered platform on its 2,331
servers.
The government hopes the test-bed plan will mark a watershed for Linux by
playing a pivotal role in further boosting the standing of the open-source
program here.
``The Linux city and university will be leading the way in bringing software
flexibility to the whole country at a lower cost to the public,¹¹ MIC
director Lee said.
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