The government’s response to the SK Telecom hacking incident has begun in earnest. Minister of Science and ICT, Yoo Sang-im, visited the headquarters of SK Telecom on April 30 to inspect the incident site and the status of actions taken.
Minister Yoo urged for a company-wide response to minimize user damage. He pointed out that a considerable number of citizens, approximately 25 million, are experiencing inconvenience and concern and pressed for transparent disclosure of the specific damage situation and efforts to prevent further damage.
On-site, he emphasized the need to reassess whether the current measures being implemented meet public expectations. Minister Yoo advocated for expanding the SIM replacement support workforce and facilities at airport roaming centers and for providing easier access to SIM protection services for seniors and other digitally vulnerable groups.
He also requested cooperation in investigating the cause of the incident. Telecommunications companies should actively participate in joint public-private investigation team activities, and the entire communication network structure needs to be inspected and weak points reinforced to prevent recurrence.
Minister Yoo emphasized that “this incident is directly linked to the public’s trust in communication infrastructure and is of very serious significance,” and that “we should take doubly or triply preventive measures that meet public expectations.” He also urged more proactive discussions and communication with related ministries on urgent matters as the government is collectively responding across various departments for swift problem resolution.