"Exemption Applies Only to Mobile, Even for Bundled Users"
Applications Open from the 15th
"Accepting Short-Term Loss... Will Restore Trust Through Enhanced Security"
500 Billion Won in Customer Compensation...
"August Bills Half Off, 50GB Extra Data"
"Not Just SKT's Problem... No Expectation of Windfall in the Telecom Industry"
After the government declared that the large-scale hacking incident at SK Telecom in April was "SKT's responsibility" and stated that customers switching carriers should be exempt from early termination fees, SKT promptly accepted the government's decision and began offering "mobile penalty refunds." The exemption applies only to contract customers who canceled or wish to cancel their service between April 19 and July 14, and for bundled product users, only the mobile contract penalty will be waived.
On the 4th, the Ministry of Science and ICT held a briefing at the Government Complex Seoul to announce the "Final Results of the SKT Hacking Incident Joint Public-Private Investigation Team." The ministry stated, "SKT failed to fulfill its duty of care to protect USIM information and also violated relevant laws, including the Information and Communications Network Act. Therefore, we determined that this constitutes grounds for penalty exemption." The ministry added a strong warning, saying, "If SKT refuses to exempt penalties, we may consider follow-up measures such as corrective orders or revocation of registration."
Following the government's announcement, SKT held an emergency press conference that afternoon and announced its acceptance. SKT CEO Yoo Youngsang said, "We deeply regret the incident that caused us to lose customer trust, and to fulfill our responsibility to customers and society, we have decided to fully exempt early termination penalties." In addition, the company unveiled compensation and security measures totaling 1.2 trillion won.
"Exemption applies only to mobile, even for bundled users"... Applications open from the 15th
The refund applies to contract customers who canceled or plan to cancel SKT service between April 19 at 00:00 and July 14, the period during which the hacking incident occurred. Device installment payments are excluded from the exemption, as they are considered purchase contracts. Applications for refunds will begin on the 15th, and the refund will be transferred to the applicant's account within one week of application.
Bundled product users are also eligible for the exemption, but only for mobile contract penalties. Penalties related to fixed-line product transfers are excluded, as they are deemed unrelated to the hacking incident. SKT will provide guidance on the refund process through T World, customer centers, and retail stores, and from the 5th, a lookup function will be available for customers to check their eligibility.
"Accepting short-term loss... Will restore trust through enhanced security"
SKT also announced information security innovation plans related to the incident. Over the next five years, the company will invest a total of 700 billion won to double its security workforce and establish a next-generation security system. The company will also introduce a zero-trust framework in line with global standards and implement AI-based integrated security monitoring.
SKT has recruited Dr. Lee Jonghyun, who previously worked in security at Amazon and Samsung Electronics, as the new Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), and will appoint additional external security experts to the board. CEO Yoo emphasized, "Such security investments and penalty exemptions will negatively impact short-term performance, but in the long term, they will lead to the restoration of customer trust and an increase in corporate value."
Yoo Youngsang, CEO of SK Telecom, is speaking at a press conference held at SKT Tower in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 4th, where the final investigation results related to the government's hacking incident were announced, discussing the hacking incident and future plans. Photo by Yonhap News
500 billion won in customer compensation... "August bills half off, 50GB extra data"
Following the government announcement, SKT finalized its position after an emergency board meeting. CEO Yoo explained, "In the long run, restoring customer trust is the path that benefits both shareholders and the company." The measures announced were based on recommendations from the "Customer Trust Committee," an external advisory body organized by SKT.
The company also announced a "Customer Appreciation Package" worth approximately 500 billion won. All SKT customers will automatically receive a 50% discount on their August bill without separate application, and an additional 50GB of data will be provided each month until the end of the year. T Membership benefits will be strengthened, allowing customers to choose three items per month from partner brands in categories such as bakery and dining, and receive discounts of 50% or more. Customers who canceled their service after the incident and return will have their membership tier, long-term discount benefits, and subscription history fully restored.
"Not just SKT's problem... No expectation of windfall in the telecom industry"
The government's announcement and SKT's decision are causing significant ripples throughout the telecommunications industry. As the structural risks of security incidents have become apparent, there is a view that the issue cannot be treated as the sole responsibility of one company.
An industry official said, "This incident is not unique to SKT; platform operators and other telecom companies are equally exposed to hacking risks. We do not expect to benefit from increased number portability, and there is a growing sense of responsibility for security across the industry."
Another official explained, "The government's determination of responsibility gave SKT a clear justification for deciding on penalty exemptions. While there had been discussions about penalties before, after this announcement, it would have been difficult for SKT to refuse." The official added, "This incident is likely to accelerate the trend toward strengthening overall security regulations."
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