Seoul: The government has issued an administrative guidance order directing SK Telecom Co. to halt new subscriber registrations due to a shortage of universal subscriber identity module (USIM) cards, a consequence of a recent breach of the company's network data.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Ministry of Science and ICT emphasized that this move aims to protect customers from further harm. The ministry has urged SK Telecom, South Korea's foremost mobile carrier, to adopt more robust corrective measures in light of the breach.
Additionally, the ministry has asked SK Telecom to provide a comprehensive plan detailing its commitment to automatically implement USIM protection services for users deemed vulnerable.
SK Telecom, which serves 25 million subscribers in a country with a population of 50 million, identified the cyberattack on April 18. The company found evidence suggesting a substantial leak of customers' USIM data.
In response, SK Telecom is offering free USIM chip replacements to all customers. However, the replacement process has been hindered by a scarcity of USIM cards and a high demand from customers seeking to take preventive action.