SK Telecom Reports Customer Data Breach Linked to Cyberattack
SK Telecom, South Korea’s largest mobile carrier, announced that it suffered a major customer data breach earlier this month, leading to a sharp fall in its share price. The company confirmed that malware triggered the incident, causing a large-scale leak of customer data.
The breach was detected on April 18, but SK Telecom has not yet disclosed full details about the extent or nature of the leaked data.
Company Responds with USIM Replacement Offer
In response to the breach, SK Telecom stated it would take full responsibility for any harm caused. As a protective measure, the company is offering:
- Free universal subscriber identity module (USIM) replacements to all 23 million users
- Availability of replacements at over 2,600 retail stores nationwide starting Monday
The carrier also urged customers to subscribe to its USIM Protection Service, which provides similar protection without the need to replace the card.
As of Sunday, approximately 5.54 million users—about one-quarter of SK Telecom’s customer base—had already enrolled in the protection service.
Share Price Impact
Following the disclosure of the incident, SK Telecom shares fell as much as 8.5% on Monday, reaching their lowest level since August of the previous year. The shares eventually closed down 6.7%, marking the company’s biggest daily loss since March 2020.
This drop contrasted sharply with the broader KOSPI index, which rose by 0.1% on the same day.
SK Telecom assured stakeholders and customers that it is continuing to strengthen its cybersecurity defenses and will provide updates as more information becomes available regarding the breach and any further protective measures.
