SK Telecom cyberattack response efforts intensified on Wednesday as SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won publicly apologized for the recent data breach. Speaking at SK Telecom’s headquarters in Seoul, Chey addressed mounting concerns after hackers targeted the company’s internal systems. The breach, first disclosed on April 18, leaked 9.7 gigabytes of user USIM data. This incident affected nearly half of South Korea’s population, with SK Telecom serving 25 million mobile subscribers. Chey vowed to overhaul cybersecurity across all SK Group affiliates.
Chey admitted to the company’s delayed communication and inadequate response following the cyberattack. Customers reported long waits to replace compromised USIM cards, fueling public frustration. He promised to fully cooperate with government investigations into the SK Telecom cyberattack response. Moreover, Chey committed to preventing further damage and restoring user confidence. His remarks came 19 days after the breach first came to light.
As part of the SK Telecom cyberattack response, Chey unveiled plans to create a new cybersecurity committee. This panel, led by external experts, will operate under the Supex Council, SK Group’s highest decision-making body. Chey stressed the need to treat cybersecurity as a matter of national importance. He argued that protecting information systems should involve both technical fixes and cultural changes. SK Group will invest heavily to enhance digital security across all business units.
The company also highlighted its USIM Protection Service, which Chey personally uses instead of replacing his card. According to SK Telecom, the service blocks illegal card cloning, offering protection equivalent to physical replacement. As of Wednesday, 24.11 million users had enrolled in the protection program. However, 1 million users remain unenrolled due to compatibility issues with roaming plans. The company plans to address this by upgrading its systems by May 14.
SK Telecom has started replacing USIM chips for free, but supply shortages have slowed the process. So far, 1.07 million users have received replacements, with demand overwhelming the company’s capacity. Officials pledged to secure 5 million new USIM cards in May and another 5 million in June. Meanwhile, the company has begun losing users to competitors KT and LG Uplus. Chey said SK’s board is reviewing a possible waiver of early termination fees to retain customers.
