KT to Actively Consider Waiving Penalty Fees for Over 20,000 Personal Information Leak Victims

"Decision on Waiver for All Customers Will Be Made After Final Investigation Results"

KT has decided to actively consider waiving penalty fees for customers who suffered personal information leaks related to unauthorized small payment incidents and hacking attacks.

On the afternoon of the 24th, during a National Assembly hearing on the hacking incident held by the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee, KT CEO Kim Youngseop responded to a question from Assemblyman Han Minsoo of the Democratic Party of Korea regarding the consideration of penalty fee waivers, stating, "We will actively consider this for the 20,030 customers whose information was leaked and who suffered damages."

Kim Youngseop, CEO of KT, bowed his head in greeting at the hearing on large-scale hacking incidents in telecommunications and finance held on the 24th at the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee. From the front row, left to right: Yoon Jongha, Vice Chairman of MBK Partners; Cho Jwajin, CEO of Lotte Card; Kim Youngseop, CEO of KT. 2025.9.24 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Previously, on the 18th, KT submitted a second report to the Personal Information Protection Commission, confirming that the subscriber identification numbers (IMSI), device identification numbers (IMEI), and mobile phone numbers of 20,030 customers had been leaked. These customers had records of receiving signals from illegal micro base stations (femtocells).

However, CEO Kim explained that regarding the waiver of penalty fees for all customers, "We are considering it, but we will make a decision after reviewing the final investigation results and taking into account the specific damages."

Assemblywoman Hwang Jeonga of the Democratic Party of Korea stressed, "Trust has been completely broken, so waiving penalty fees for all customers is only natural," adding, "KT should not just talk about compensation but should also pursue legal damages, including for mental distress."