A data center fire disruption in South Korea disrupted government and public services nationwide. Korea Post, airports, mobile ID systems, and other essential platforms stopped working. Citizens could not track parcels, send mail, or access financial services. Authorities responded immediately, and IT teams are working to restore all systems. The incident shows how heavily public services rely on centralized IT infrastructure.
Korea Post’s online system stopped processing mail delivery, parcel tracking, and banking services like savings and insurance. Many users worried about delays, especially with Chuseok approaching. Some parcels reached sorting centers but could not move forward. Analysts warned that the data center fire disruption could increase delays during peak mailing periods. Officials encouraged citizens to remain patient while staff work to restore services quickly.
Financial services also suffered. Users could not transfer money or access accounts through Korea Post apps. People faced difficulties sending urgent payments, including congratulatory money and utility transfers. However, some citizens had to find alternative solutions to complete transactions. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok instructed officials to prioritize services tied to economic activity and daily convenience.
The fire also froze mobile ID systems, preventing airport check-ins, hospital registrations, and other ID-dependent services. Travelers had to carry physical ID to board domestic flights, and district office kiosks stopped operating. Officials warned that longer outages could cause widespread confusion. Staff are focusing on restoring essential services efficiently to reduce disruptions during the holiday season.
In total, the Daejeon hub went offline, affecting 647 administrative systems, including Government24, social service portals, police fine payments, and online petition platforms. Firefighters extinguished the blaze, and one person sustained minor injuries. Nearly all lithium batteries stored on-site were destroyed. Experts highlight that the data center fire disruption demonstrates the critical role of centralized IT infrastructure in supporting public services and economic activity.
