SKT's 'USIM Format' Takes 10 Minutes Per Person... 5 Minutes Faster Than USIM Replacement

Technology to Partially Change Your Existing USIM Information
Making It Different from Leaked Data
"Currently in Development, Aiming to Launch on the 10th"

As SK Telecom is working to resolve the recent USIM hacking incident, the company will launch a 'USIM format' service starting this weekend. On May 8, Jungwhan Ryu, Vice President of SK Telecom (Head of Network Infrastructure Center), stated, "It takes about 10 minutes per subscriber to complete the USIM format," adding, "We are also preparing devices for the USIM format service."

Vice President Ryu made this announcement while attending a hearing of the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee on the same day. The USIM format is a technology that partially modifies the information on the USIM used in one's mobile phone, making it different from the leaked information. This allows users to achieve the same effect as replacing the USIM, but about five minutes faster, without physically changing the USIM card. It is known that replacing a USIM card takes approximately 15 minutes per subscriber.

One of the advantages of the USIM format is that it eliminates the need to back up data or reconfigure applications, which is required when physically replacing the USIM card. In fact, some SK Telecom subscribers experienced inconvenience after changing their USIM cards, such as having the balance of prepaid transportation cards like 'Tmoney' displayed as zero. Since prepaid transportation cards use Near Field Communication (NFC) to store information on the USIM and process payments, they failed to function properly after the USIM was replaced.

The company explained that it is developing the USIM format service with the goal of launching it on May 14. At the 'Daily Cyber Incident Briefing' held the previous day, Vice President Ryu said, "We are continuing to improve the technical completeness and conduct ongoing tests," adding, "At this point, there are no significant schedule issues for the service launch."

Jungwhan Ryu, Vice President of SK Telecom (Head of Network Infrastructure Center), is responding to questions from lawmakers at the hearing held by the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee on the 30th of last month. Photo by Yonhap News