Science and ICT Committee to Hold 'SKT Hacking Incident' Hearing on May 8, Chey Tae-won Selected as Witness

After the SK Hacking Incident, Subscribers Leave SKT
Lawmakers Demand "Waiver of Early Termination Penalties" for Contract Cancellations
National Assembly Summons Chairman Chey Taewon to Secure a Clear Answer

Yoo Sangyoung, CEO of SK Telecom, is drinking water while attending the hearing on broadcasting and telecommunications held by the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee on the 30th. 2025.4.30 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

The National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee will hold a separate hearing on the SK Telecom SIM card hacking incident on May 8, and has selected SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won as a witness.

On the evening of the 30th, after resuming the hearing on broadcasting and telecommunications, the committee made this decision. Choi Minhee, chair of the committee, stated, "Lawmakers from both the first and second largest parties are demanding a waiver of the early termination penalty for number portability, but SK Telecom continues to respond by saying 'we will review it,' dragging out the process." She added, "This is because the decision-maker is not present. Please ensure that Chairman Chey attends the standalone hearing."

Previously, the committee had requested Chairman Chey to attend the hearing as a witness, but it was reported that he expressed his intention not to attend, citing the need for rest due to dental treatment.

The committee's decision to hold a standalone hearing on May 8 and require Chairman Chey's attendance is due to the fact that Yu Youngsang, CEO of SK Telecom, did not give a clear answer regarding the waiver of the early termination penalty in the event of contract cancellation. On this day, lawmakers urged that if SK Telecom subscribers terminate their service following the hacking incident, it should be considered "contract termination due to the company's fault," and called for the penalty to be waived. However, CEO Yu stated, "We will review the matter comprehensively," and did not promise to waive the penalty.

Kang Dohyun, the Second Vice Minister of Science and ICT, also stated at the hearing, "We will review the legal aspects of the penalty waiver without considering any specific company," and added, "We will review this in parallel with the handling of the incident and the results of the subsequent investigation."