"Over 150,000 Subscribers Leave KT for Number Portability Without Cancellation Fees"

An Average of 17,000 Customers Switch to Other Carriers Daily
Cancellation Fee Waiver to Continue Until January 13

The number of subscribers who have left KT, which is currently waiving cancellation fees for customers affected by the data breach, has surpassed 150,000.

According to industry sources on January 9, a total of 24,252 customers left KT the previous day. Of these, 15,701 switched to SK Telecom, 5,027 moved to LG Uplus, and 3,524 transferred to mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs).

Since the cancellation fee waiver began on December 31 of last year, the cumulative number of subscribers who have left KT as of the previous day reached 154,851, meaning that more than 17,000 customers per day have switched to other telecom providers on average.

KT plans to continue offering cancellation fee waivers in the form of refunds to departing customers until January 13.

Previously, SK Telecom also implemented a 10-day cancellation fee waiver in July last year following a hacking incident, during which approximately 160,000 customers switched to other telecom providers.

As competition among mobile carriers to attract subscribers intensifies, leading to an overheated market with increased subsidy support, the Korea Communications Commission is currently conducting on-site inspections to check for false and exaggerated advertisements in order to prevent consumer harm.