The Korea IT Industry Promotion Agency said on January 21 that it would begin switching to Linux system through some 1,000 information system projects set for local autonomous governments this year. It also plans to open a technology center comprising a portal site and a call center to provide support for operations of information systems, which has long been seen as a major hurdle to adoption of open-source software.
"We plan to set up Linux-based information centers, cyber agriculture and fishery product markets, digital homepages and culture networks for local governments nationwide," said Lee Sang-eun, director of the software division at KIPA. "The setup will get on track by the second half of this year, linking Seoul-based developers such as Wow Linux and Hancom Linux to local software firms."
The agency estimates that about 1,000 system setup projects out of a total of some 3,000 projects set for this year will adopt the open-source operating system.
It has decided to introduce Linux to government-supported projects and pilot projects led by the agency, in particular, aiming to set up some 150 Linux-based sites before the end of this year. It expects the figure to increase to 350 next year.
KIPA plans to promote adoption of the free open-source operating system, which it sees as useful for Web-based systems such as e-commerce, Web servers and information management, as well as for cost saving.
A homepage setup project led by Yeongdo-gu district, Busan, in fact, will cost only some 25 million won, about a half of the cost initially estimated, if it adopts Linux, according to the agency. Seo-gu district, Daejeon will also have to spend some 100 million won, about a half of the initially-estimated costs, by building a Linux-based local tax system.
In the meantime, the technology center set to be open later in the first half of this year will harbor an open-source software center, which will be linked to local support units over the Internet.
The agency plans to foster experts on open-source system operations in major cities such as Busan, Incheon, Daejeon, Gwangju and Jeonju.
"The number of Linux companies has reduced from some 170 in 1999 to a dozen now, and we expect the switch to Linux in the government sector to serve as a catalyst for recovery of the market," said Jeong Su-yeong, CEO of Wow Linux. "Software education is seen as essential for link with local system integration companies."
Quelle: Korea IT News, 23.02.2004
