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Photo = SK Telecom |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] As SK Telecom prepares to announce the results of its third investigation into a recent cyber intrusion incident, political leaders and civic groups are intensifying demands for contract cancellation penalty waivers for affected customers. While a multibillion-won compensation package is reportedly in the works, the debate is also raising concerns over fairness and whether telecom giants are being held disproportionately accountable.
According to industry sources, SK Telecom is finalizing a comprehensive compensation plan, which is expected to include subscription fee discounts, roaming and membership benefits, as well as enhanced information security measures.
The controversy stems in part from comparisons with how other telecom providers handled similar incidents. In 2023, LG Uplus suffered a breach affecting approximately 290,000 customer records, but resolved compensation by offering a paid anti-spam service (worth KRW 550/month) free of charge to wireless subscribers. The total compensation cost in that case was around KRW 6 billion (approx. USD 4.3 million).
By contrast, SK Telecom’s breach has triggered broader public backlash and political scrutiny, with some observers questioning whether the larger scale of public expectations and compensation reflects inconsistency in policy application across the telecom sector.
The Ministry of Science and ICT is expected to release final findings from its joint public-private task force by June 30, which will likely address not only technical factors behind the breach but also customer redress and regulatory follow-up measures.
Alphabiz Reporter Paul Lee(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
