Today in Sofia, the discussion was not just about technology and trendy words like "digitalization". The focus was on how the government can finally start functioning in a way that makes people's lives easier, not more difficult. The Minister of E-Governance, Valentin Mundrov, welcomed his Korean colleague Yun Ho-jung, the South Korean representative in charge of internal security and digital services. They opened the forum between Bulgaria and Korea, but from the very first words it was clear that the meeting would be more than an exchange of pleasantries.
Both ministers said something very simple but important: people do not want miracles; they want the government to function properly. They don't want to run from counter to counter, filling out the same documents three times, but to be able to do things online without feeling like a hero in a bureaucratic labyrinth. According to Mundrov and Yun, this is possible not only with new software, but also through real cooperation, honesty and clear rules.
"Digital transformation is a change in the way of thinking - both for the administration and for the people in it," said Mundrov. "Services must be secure and fast, because trust is of paramount importance." In other words, no matter what systems are in place behind the scenes, if citizens immediately feel confused, something is wrong.
As expected, the conversation also turned to artificial intelligence and personal data. How can artificial intelligence be used without each of us becoming a line in a foreign register? How can information security be guaranteed in the long term? And what should be done if a critical system - for example in the energy or public sector - is the target of a cyberattack? The topic of elections and state registers was also discussed - painfully familiar in Bulgaria.
"Cybersecurity is already part of national security," Mundrov reminded. "Secure systems mean secure citizens." He also clarified another point: without international partnership it is impossible to build stable security.
For his part, Minister Yun explained how South Korea has reached its current level: years of investment, continuous work and great consistency. He gave examples of how the country responds to incidents and maintains the security of its systems. He said that Bulgaria is a partner with whom Korea can share real experience, not only through official visits.
At the end of the forum, the participants united around one idea that may seem trivial, but is absolutely true: digitalization does not happen overnight. It requires time, leadership and people with the courage to change things. The cooperation between Bulgaria and South Korea is yet to be developed - with new projects, more secure services and greater transparency. Simply put, a more normal country for the ordinary person.