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3w ago

SK Telecom to Halt New Sign-Ups Following Massive Data Breach

The South Korean telecom giant will suspend new subscriptions and mobile number portability from May 5 to address USIM shortages and comply with government orders.

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Outbound travelers wait in line at an outlet of SK Telecom Co., South Korea's leading mobile carrier, inside Incheon airport, west of Seoul, on May 1, 2025, to have a free universal subscriber identity module (USIM) replaced on their smartphones following a network hacking incident involving the potential leak of subscriber information. (Yonhap)
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SK Telecom Co. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ryu Young-sang speaks during a media briefing at the company's headquarters in downtown Seoul on May 2, 2025. (Yonhap)

Overview

  • SK Telecom confirmed it will pause new subscriber sign-ups and mobile number portability at its 2,600 retail stores starting May 5 until the USIM supply stabilizes.
  • The company has enrolled 14.42 million users in its USIM Protection Service, with automatic enrollment for vulnerable groups set to be completed by May 14.
  • Regulatory authorities have mandated SK Telecom to notify all potentially affected users of the data breach and strengthen protections for vulnerable populations.
  • The breach, affecting 25 million subscribers, has caused significant customer churn to competitors and delays in replacement services due to USIM shortages.
  • SK Telecom has warned of phishing scams related to USIM replacements and emphasized that legitimate messages will only come from its official service number.