SK Telecom has taken steps to address the hacking incident related to malicious code affecting subscriber identity module (USIM) cards. To alleviate security concerns of customers, SKT announced on the 25th that it will offer free USIM card replacements starting on the 28th and implement enhanced customer information protection measures.
Ryu Young-sang, president of SKT, said during a briefing on the enhancement of customer information protection measures held at the SK Telecom headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, "I sincerely apologize for the great inconvenience and concern caused to our customers and society who have trusted and used SK Telecom."
He added, "We will implement additional measures to provide free USIM card replacements to all customers using SK Telecom, upon request."
SKT plans to provide a free USIM (including eSIM) replacement service to its customers starting at 10 a.m. on the 28th. This measure will apply to all customers wishing to change their USIM cards. Customers can replace their USIM cards at T World stores nationwide and airport roaming centers. Eligible customers are those with mobile subscriptions as of April 18, and each individual can change their card once.
SKT stated that this measure was designed to alleviate customer anxiety as much as possible, following the enhancement of the previous 'USIM protection service' and the implementation of strengthened measures to block abnormal authentication attempts (FDS; Fraud Detection System). Currently, there are 2.4 million cumulative subscribers to the USIM protection service, with 2.06 million signing up in the last three days. SKT aims to enhance the service by May to allow USIM protection service usage while roaming.
Initially, it is expected that many customers will flock to the service. If replacements are difficult on the same day, customers can reserve for a USIM replacement at the visited store for later. SKT advised that replacing USIMs at the airport may take additional time, so customers should visit with sufficient time.
SKT announced that it will retroactively apply the free USIM replacement service to customers who paid for their replacements from the 19th to the 27th and will refund customers for the expenses they have already paid. Additionally, the same measures will be applied to customers using budget mobile phones on the SKT network. The timing and methods for implementation will be announced by each budget mobile provider.
Ryu noted, "SK Telecom prioritizes customer trust and will strengthen security systems further, while also developing measures to enhance customer information protection," adding, "Through this incident, we will once again become a responsible corporation dedicated to fundamentals."
Earlier, SKT announced on the 22nd that an incident of USIM information leakage due to malicious code had occurred. Currently, the Ministry of Science and ICT is conducting an investigation into the cause and scale of the incident with a public-private joint investigation team. However, a thorough investigation into the scale of the damage, the specific details of the leaked information, the perpetrators, and the hacking methods is expected to take about two months.