KT blocks first spam senders with unique identification codes in Korea

KT announced on the 11th that it will be the first in the industry to implement a targeted policy to block the first sender of spam messages.

The general spam sanction policy was a method of managing the spam distribution volume of messaging resellers that have contractual relationships with messaging relay operators, including KT. The structure of sending spam messages occurs through several stages of messaging resellers, which limited the tracking of the first sender of spam messages.

To improve this, the Ministry of Science and ICT revised a notification regarding the prevention of user damage caused by falsely displayed phone numbers, which had been in effect since January of last year. This policy involves granting unique codes to the businesses that first send mass messages, requiring those businesses to insert the assigned unique code when sending messages. Messaging resellers must include the assigned unique code when sending messages if they are the first sender.

With the enforcement of pinpoint sanctions through unique identification codes, KT has been able to fundamentally block the first sender of spam messages from circumventing sanctions by distributing spam messages through multiple messaging resellers. As a messaging relay operator, KT can identify the unique code of the first sender, even for messages distributed through several resellers. Therefore, it blocks all message sending based on that unique code in cases of large distribution of illegal spam related to gambling, illegal loans, drugs (narcotics), and adult content, which are categorized as the four major types of malignant spam.

In particular, KT and the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) signed a memorandum of understanding in September of last year to eradicate illegal spam. They analyze KISA's spam report information using KT's 'AI Clean Messaging' technology, then provide a blacklist of sender numbers, while KISA verifies the blacklist numbers provided by KT and shares them with domestic messaging relay operators as part of their cooperation to reduce spam. Based on the contents of the agreement, KT plans to strengthen spam blocking efforts through autonomous sanctions and close collaboration with relevant industries and the government.

Meanwhile, KT has been operating a system to permanently eliminate spam sending businesses through a one-strike-out policy since December 2023. Starting January 2024, it will develop an AI clean messaging system to respond to the constantly changing types of spam and block spam messages. Due to these efforts, KT has shown the most improvement among messaging relay operators over the past three years, as highlighted in the Korea Communications Commission's spam distribution status announcement in December 2024.

Myung Je-hoon, Senior Vice President of KT's Enterprise Division Product Services Headquarters, said, “In addition to this targeted spam blocking policy, KT is exploring various spam reduction measures from both technological and institutional aspects. We will continue to actively participate in the establishment of illegal spam countermeasures through public-private consultative bodies and play a leading role in creating a digital environment safe from spam.”