The research team led by Professor Yoo Il-sun at Kookmin University (President Jung Seung-ryul) announced that they have succeeded in designing and implementing 5G-AKA-HPQC, which applies forward secrecy and hybrid post-quantum cryptography (HPQC) technology to 5G-AKA, the primary authentication standard for standalone 5G.

As 5G mobile communication evolves into 6G, application convergence network-related technologies are evolving, and with the advent of innovative quantum computing technologies, it is generally believed that the security strength of 5G-AKA is limited to prepare for this. In addition, a number of vulnerabilities have been reported, including 5G-AKA-related linkeability attacks, making the improvement of 5G-AKA an essential security task in the transition from 5G to 6G. The research team led by Professor Yoo Il-sun, who noticed this, improved the security vulnerabilities of 5G-AKA and proposed 5G-AKA-HPQC, which supports forward secrecy and quantum-resistant cryptography, suggesting the direction of 6G primary authentication and laying the foundation for leading mobile communication security technology in the future.

Professor Yoo's research team is conducting interworking tests with LG CNS' 5G specialized network core solution, 'LG CNS 5G Core'. The research team plans to jointly promote the internalization of quantum security in 5G specialized networks and strengthen the competitiveness of 6G security technology in Korea with LG CNS.

This research was conducted through the 'Optimization of Quantum-Resistant Cryptography and Application of Security Protocols for Building a Secure Next-Generation IoT Communication Environment' project, which aims to develop core source technologies for information protection, supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National IT Industry Promotion Agency.

Professor You Ilsun said, “At this important time of transition from 5G to 6G, the development of 5G-AKA-HPQC has been a meaningful start that suggests the direction of 6G security,” and “I will do my best to ensure that domestic technology leads the world through research on the internalization of quantum security in mobile communications.”

This research achievement is considered to have opened a new chapter in mobile communication security technology for the era of quantum computing and presented an important reference point for the transition to 6G.