SK Telecom will implement additional security measures, including free SIM card replacements, to strengthen the protection of customer information starting on the 28th.
On the 25th, SK Telecom announced that it would provide a free SIM card replacement service, including eSIM, to alleviate customer concerns following cyber intrusion incidents. All customers who wish to replace their SIM cards can apply at nationwide T World stores and airport roaming centers. The subjects eligible for replacement are mobile telecom customers who are subscribed as of midnight on April 18th when hacking damages were first confirmed, with some watches and kids phones excluded.
In the early stages of service implementation, on-site reservations for replacement may be necessary due to high demand. For airport roaming centers, procedures may take longer, so it’s advised to allow ample time before visiting.
SK Telecom views this measure, along with the previously implemented ‘SIM Card Protection Service’ and the enhancement of Fraud Detection System (FDS) against abnormal authentication attempts, as a core response to recovering customer trust. Particularly, reimbursement procedures are being conducted for customers who replaced their SIM cards at their own expense. Customers who replaced their SIM cards with a fee between April 19th and 27th can get reimbursed following the separate guidelines given.
This policy will also be uniformly applied to mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) subscribers using SK Telecom’s network. Specific implementation times and methods will be announced separately by each MVNO operator.
Previously, SK Telecom strengthened the FDS criteria to the highest level and enhanced real-time monitoring systems to counter illegal SIM card cloning. The ‘SIM Card Protection Service’ is being offered free of charge, and from April 22nd to 24th, the number of new subscribers reached 2.06 million, with a total of 2.4 million subscribers.
SK Telecom is also improving functionalities to allow the use of the SIM Card Protection Service even while roaming, with related services set to be applied by May.
CEO Yoo Young-sang stated, “We will continue to take responsible actions to restore trust,” and added, “We will do our best to protect customer information by strengthening the security system even further.”