SK Telecom Fined and Ordered to Strengthen Data Security After Major Data Leak

SK Telecom, South Korea's largest mobile carrier, has been penalized by the government for a major data leak caused by a malware attack. The company will be fined up to 30 million won ($21,970) and must strengthen data security measures. SK Telecom will also invest 700 billion won ($513.38 million) over five years for data protection and offer a discount of 50% for August subscription fees to all 24 million customers. The government has called the incident a "wake-up call for information protection."

South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT has penalized SK Telecom, the country's largest mobile carrier, for a significant data leak caused by a malware attack. The penalty includes a fine of up to 30 million won ($21,970) and stringent security measures. SK Telecom must also invest 700 billion won ($513.38 million) over five years in data protection and offer a 50% discount on August subscription fees to all 24 million customers. The government has deemed this incident a "wake-up call for information protection" [1].

The data breach, which occurred in April, affected 26.96 million pieces of user data. SK Telecom disclosed the breach after suffering a malware attack, leading to a 5.6% drop in its stock price. The Ministry of Science and ICT found that SK Telecom failed to fulfill its duty of care to protect user data and did not comply with relevant regulations [1].

In response to the government's announcement, SK Telecom has implemented various measures to compensate affected customers and enhance information protection. The company will invest heavily in data security, including increasing personnel and investment. SK Telecom's CEO, Ryu Young-sang, expressed seriousness over the incident and apologized to customers and society [1].

The government has ordered SK Telecom to submit follow-up action plans and will inspect their implementation in November or December. If additional measures are needed, the government may issue a correction order [2].

The incident has caused alarm among SK Telecom's 23 million users, with many concerned about potential identity theft and financial fraud. SK Telecom has started offering free USIM replacements to all users, with 9.39 million users having already replaced their USIMs as of late June [1].

The South Korean government has emphasized the importance of robust data protection measures, warning that future cyber threats are likely to become more sophisticated as they combine with artificial intelligence (AI) [2].

References:
[1] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/south-korea-penalises-negligent-sk-telecom-over-major-data-leak/articleshow/122245072.cms
[2] https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250704004900320