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Telecom giant SKT instructed to pause new subscriptions until SIM supply issue is addressed

Telecom administrators have instructed SK Telecom to halt the acceptance of new subscriptions starting Thursday, due to a SIM card shortage, which they are working to resolve through administrative measures.

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Telecom giant SKT instructed to pause new subscriptions until SIM supply issue is addressed

A fresh take:

Incheon International Airport's SK Telecom roaming center was buzzing with travelers seeking new SIM cards, amidst a looming data breach scandal involving the company on May 1. [NEWS1]

Unraveling the Mystery

Police Set Sail on a Full-Scale Investigation into SKT in Light of SIM Hacks

No Gestures of Fraudulent Activity Traced to the SKT Breach, Declares Financial Authority

SK Telecom's Chief Tugged on the Hot Seat Over Data Leaks

Translated from JoongAng Ilbo using AI and polished by our team.

The Breach Unfolds

As of early May 2025, the SK Telecom data breach has enlisted a plethora of players and escalating consequences:

Government Involvement: South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) hurriedly dispatched an emergency response team and technical experts to SKT. [2] The Cyber Investigation Unit of Seoul Metropolitan Police is also conducting a concurrent probe, [2] while the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) mandated individual notifications about leaked data details to the affected users. [3]

The Breadth of the Attack: The April 18 malware attack unveiled 9.7 GB of data – roughly equivalent to 2.7 million pages – and included USIM-related information. [1][5] SKT insists no confirmed cases of data exploitation have materialized, [4] yet the PIPC has reported a spike in consumer complaints about inadequate breach alerts. [3]

Financial and Legal Consequences:- Market Swings: SKT's market capitalization plummeted by $643 million and is grappling with subscriber attrition. [5]- Litigation: A class-action lawsuit involving close to 50,000 participants is underway, with four plaintiffs currently seeking compensation amounting to 10 million won ($7,300) each. [1]- Cost projections: Replacements of SIM cards alone could cost up to 200 billion won ($146 million). [1]

The Path Ahead

SKT is undergoing a comprehensive system audit, [4] offering gratis SIM protection services (72,000 new subscribers), [4] and blocking shady account activity. [4] A joint public-private investigation into root causes is projected to conclude within 1–2 months. [5]

  1. Amidst the international business community, SK Telecom is struggling to regain trust following the data breach scandal involving their roaming center at Incheon International Airport.
  2. The technology industry is closely watching SK Telecom's responses to the data leak, as the breach has raised concerns about authentication and security measures.
  3. As the investigation into SK Telecom continues, the South Korean government, including the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Cyber Investigation Unit, and the Personal Information Protection Commission, are working together to address the issue.
  4. In an effort to mitigate the impact of the data leak, SK Telecom is implementing a series of measures, such as offering free SIM protection services, blocking suspicious account activity, and conducting a comprehensive system audit.
  5. The SK Telecom data breach has also sparked a potential legal battle, with a class-action lawsuit underway, demanding compensation for affected users, and projected costs for replacing SIM cards reaching billions of won.
Telecom authorities have mandated a halt on new SK Telecom subscriptions effective immediately, until the company addresses its SIM card shortage via administrative directives.

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