Seoul poised to remove ActiveX software from public websites

SEOUL, March 3 (Yonhap) -- The government plans to start removing the troublesome ActiveX software from public websites later this month as it gears up to create a more friendly Internet environment, the home affairs ministry said Tuesday.

The move comes amid growing complaints over the ActiveX technology, which South Korea's on-line financial websites and shopping malls often use to have their payments and identification programs securely downloaded to users' PCs.

The Microsoft technology, however, operates exclusively on the Internet Explorer web browser, blocking users of other web browsers from accessing websites using the software framework. The websites of government bodies are also using the technology for Internet security.

ActiveX controls were one of many troublesome regulations that President Park Geun-hye has vowed to remove in her signature deregulation initiative.

The Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs said that it will draw up a set of guidelines to remove ActiveX controls from public websites and implement them later this month.

The government has been seeking to help develop alternative technologies to replace the ActiveX controls, the home ministry said, adding that private sector website operators will also join the move to get rid of them in cooperation with other ministries.

Currently, the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning is in charge of similar efforts vis-a-vis the private sector.

The science ministry is planning to complete its private sector ActiveX removal efforts by the end of this month.

pbr@yna.co.kr
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