"What Could Happen While Waiting for SIM Card Replacement"
"The Uncertainty Makes Me Even More Anxious"
At 11 a.m. on the 29th, in front of an SK Telecom agency (T World store) near Gwanghwamun, Seoul. Kim Min (30), an office worker waiting in line, said, "I conduct almost all of my stock trading on my mobile phone, so I'm scared that if someone hacks and manipulates my phone, I could suffer significant losses. When I log into financial institution applications, I use a financial certificate, but it seems like someone could clone my phone and use the certificate, so I want to change my SIM card as soon as possible."
On this day, as with Kim, a long line formed in front of the agency with citizens concerned about financial losses due to hacking. Park Yechan (29) said, "If my phone is hacked, small payments could be made without my knowledge, and money could be withdrawn from my bank account, so I'm worried. I haven't suffered any losses yet, but I'm here because I'm concerned that my money might disappear."
On the 28th, customers visiting an SK Telecom official certified store in Mapo-gu, Seoul, are receiving guidance from staff regarding SIM card arrivals. SK Telecom plans to offer free SIM card replacement services to subscribers starting today. April 28, 2025. Photo by Kang Jinhyung
Due to the SK Telecom SIM card hacking incident, users are increasingly worried about financial losses and identity theft. As demand for SIM card replacements has surged, resulting in shortages, those who have not yet been able to change their SIM cards are anxious about falling victim to hacking during the waiting period. Experts advise that users need to raise their awareness of security, such as updating their phones, installing security apps, and regularly changing their passwords.
Lee (32), who had just left the store, said, "I've registered for the SIM protection service and even purchased an eSIM, which allows me to activate my phone without a physical SIM card. I applied for a SIM card replacement, but while waiting, I'm worried about what would happen if money is withdrawn from my account." Hyun (43) also said, "I applied for a SIM card replacement, but in the meantime, I set a SIM card password just in case."
Some expressed anxiety because they do not know what kind of damage might occur. Jang Jiho (27), an office worker, said, "The lack of information about SIM card hacking itself is a source of anxiety. I have a vague sense that my financial information could be stolen if I get hacked, but I don't know exactly how the damage would happen." He added, "The government tells us to be careful of smishing and phishing, but in a situation where users don't even know how to distinguish these things, the worry only grows."
The longer the waiting line grew, the more anxious the users seemed to become. Jang Sehun (68), who applied for a SIM card replacement at the agency, said, "I didn't think much about hacking, but after seeing my colleagues going out to replace their SIM cards since yesterday, I started to think that I could be in serious trouble too. I applied for a SIM card replacement without knowing much, but since everyone else is anxious, I'm also starting to worry."
Experts unanimously say that individuals need to pay attention to security to reduce the risk of hacking. Kim Seungjoo, a professor at Korea University's Graduate School of Information Security, said, "It's important to keep your phone's operating system and apps updated to the latest version. Just as a healthy body is less affected by viruses, if you regularly update, even if malware is installed, it is less likely to function properly." He continued, "If you're worried about hacking, rather than searching online, it's better to call SKT directly or check the official SKT website. If you search for keywords like 'SIM protection service' or 'free SIM card replacement' on the internet and access sites indiscriminately, you could fall victim to phishing, so you need to be careful."
Hwang Seokjin, a professor at Dongguk University's Graduate School of International Information Security, also said, "It's important to frequently change the passwords for accounts on apps or websites you often access with your phone. Users tend to register for automatic login on sites they use often, but if you get hacked in this situation, important information can be leaked immediately, so it's better to log in manually." He added, "You should also get into the habit of turning your phone off and on again. Sometimes malware is deleted in the process of rebooting the phone, so I recommend making this effort at least once a day."
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