KT Struggles to Find New Security Chief: "Heavy Responsibilities and Burdens Deter Candidates"

Searching for Executive Vice President or Vice President-Level Candidates
Industry: "Reluctance to Take on Telecom Security Chief Role After Series of Hacking Incidents"

KT, which recently experienced a large-scale hacking incident, is searching for a new leader to head its security organization, but recruitment efforts are reportedly facing difficulties. In the aftermath of the hacking incident, the company has considered elevating the position of Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Chief Privacy Officer (CPO) from executive director level to executive vice president or vice president level, but has yet to find a suitable candidate.

According to the telecommunications industry on January 12, KT has been internally reviewing plans to strengthen its information security system by raising the rank of its security chief following last year's illegal femtocell hacking incident. Since last month, the company has been actively searching for candidates through search firms and other channels.

Currently, the highest-ranking official responsible for security at KT is Executive Director Hwang Taeseon, who serves as both CISO and CPO. However, both inside and outside the company, there is a growing consensus that the status and authority of the security organization must be enhanced in the wake of last year's hacking incident. As a result, appointing a new executive vice president or vice president, rather than an executive director, has been discussed. This is because, while KT's head of the network division holds a vice president-level position, the security chief remains at the executive director level, making it difficult for security-related decisions to carry weight in major decision-making processes. Despite KT's active search for a suitable candidate, it is reported that a clear pool of candidates has yet to emerge. An executive in charge of security at a major company commented, "Most of the people who would be considered for the role are turning it down," adding, "There is a strong perception that the responsibilities and burdens are simply too great."

In particular, after the three major telecommunications companies experienced a series of hacking incidents last year, the burden on security chiefs has increased significantly, given the telecommunications industry's vast stores of personal data. It is now said that the position of security chief at a telecom company is viewed as an undesirable role.

Within KT, there is a consensus that the status of the security chief should be raised, but the limited pool of qualified talent is considered a challenge. The fact that CEO Park Yunyoung has not yet officially taken office, and that internal discussions are still ongoing about how to manage and respond to cyber incidents, is also slowing down the recruitment process. An industry insider stated, "Executive-level security personnel are usually approached through personal recommendations or search firms, not public recruitment," adding, "Given the increased burden on telecom security chiefs after recent incidents, it will be difficult to find someone willing to step up."