Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday urged a thorough investigation into a series of mobile payment hacking incidents, after users of telecom operator KT reported unauthorized mobile transactions.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee made the remarks during a meeting with senior aides after KT users have reported more than 270 cases of unauthorized mobile phone payments since late August, sparking concerns over a possible leak of customer data. "We must swiftly uncover the full truth and actively work to prevent further damage," he said.
He also instructed authorities to investigate whether there had been any cover-up or downplaying of the incident. "Companies must reflect on whether they are treating security investment as an unnecessary cost," he said. "The government should also join forces to fundamentally resolve security issues."
On Thursday, KT said the personal data of 5,561 users may have been leaked in a recent mobile payment breach, issuing a public apology for the security failure.
He also addressed concerns over recent reports of alleged kidnapping cases targeting elementary school students and called for stronger public security measures. "When it comes to public safety, it is 100 times better to overreact than to fail to respond," he said.