Seoul: The foreign ministry is replacing USIM cards in work phones used by diplomats and officials in response to a massive data breach at SK Telecom Co. caused by a recent cyberattack, a ministry official said Tuesday. South Korea's largest mobile carrier has reported a data breach that has likely affected up to 23 million users and announced it will replace all SIM cards containing personal information free of charge.
According to Yonhap News Agency, "We're carrying out the replacement of USIM cards in all mobile devices registered under the ministry's name, including work phones and tablets," a ministry official told reporters. The first round of replacements has been completed, and work is under way on the second batch, the official said.
The number of devices being replaced was not immediately known. The official said that the ministry has also issued advisories about phishing attempts linked to the leaked USIM information and recommended its staff take precautionary measures, such as applying for USIM protection services.