SKT Yoo Youngsang: "USIM Replacement Top Priority... Airport USIM Replacements to Triple"

USIM Replacement Prioritized Over New Activations
Top Priority Supply to Airport Roaming Centers
Immediate USIM Shortage Despite Support from KT and LG Uplus

SK Telecom, which recently experienced a USIM information leak incident, has decided to prioritize providing USIMs to users who wish to replace their USIMs over new subscribers. In particular, the company will focus on supplying USIMs to airport roaming centers, increasing the number of USIM replacements for overseas travelers to more than three times the current level.

On the 30th, Yoo Youngsang, CEO of SKT, attended a hearing of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee. In response to a question from Lee Haemin, a lawmaker from the Rebuilding Korea Party, about whether SKT would send an official notice to all nationwide retail stores instructing them not to prioritize new subscriber USIM activations over USIM replacements, Yoo replied, "We will do so."

Yoo Youngsang, CEO of SK Telecom, is responding to lawmakers' questions at the hearing on broadcasting and telecommunications held by the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee on the 30th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

The company especially plans to provide focused support for outbound travelers who have difficulty using its 'USIM Protection Service.' The USIM Protection Service is designed to prevent the activation of new mobile phones using leaked USIM information by restricting roaming usage to block fraudulent overseas use. Yoo stated, "Considering that the USIM Protection Service cannot be applied overseas, we have prepared a plan to prioritize same-day USIM replacements for departing travelers. We will supply the necessary USIMs to airport roaming centers as a top priority and strengthen our operational capacity by increasing the number of USIM replacements handled to more than three times the current level."

However, it is expected to take some time before all subscribers who wish to replace their USIMs are able to do so. Yoo explained, "System processing is essential when activating a USIM, and given the processing speed per person, the number of USIM replacements that can be handled per day is only 200,000 to 250,000."

Yoo also pointed out the shortage of USIM inventory. He said, "Currently, we have one million USIMs in stock, but the inventory is being depleted. KT and LG Uplus have offered to support us with USIMs, but even if we place orders now, they will not arrive within the period we need them." He added, "We will secure five million USIMs by next month and an additional five million by June."