Seoul: The military is currently in discussions with SK Telecom Co. to facilitate the provision of new universal subscriber identity module (USIM) chips for its troops. This initiative comes in the wake of a significant network hacking incident at the country’s largest mobile carrier, as announced by the defense ministry.

According to Yonhap News Agency, a recent cyberattack led to a substantial leak of USIM data from SK Telecom, affecting approximately 25 million subscribers. In response, the military is taking proactive steps to ensure the security of its personnel. Ministry spokesperson Jeon Ha-kyou stated during a regular press briefing that military units are coordinating with offline stores to expedite the distribution of necessary USIM replacements, particularly for troops stationed at front-line units and those unable to visit stores personally.

Jeon emphasized that the hacking incident does not compromise military intelligence, as robust security measures are already in place for mobile devices used by military personnel. The ministry is also evaluating the need for USIM replacements for work phones utilized by military staff and is seeking collaboration with SK Telecom to address this issue.