Seoul: SK Telecom Co. announced Sunday that nearly 20 million of its subscribers have enrolled in its USIM Protection Service following a significant data breach incident. A total of 19.9 million users had signed up for the service by Sunday morning, with 956,000 subscribers having already replaced their universal subscriber identity module (USIM) chips, the company reported in a daily briefing.
According to Yonhap News Agency, an additional 7.6 million subscribers have scheduled online appointments for USIM replacements. SK Telecom clarified that the USIM Protection Service offers an equivalent level of protection against unauthorized financial transactions as physically replacing the USIM chip.
The data breach was identified on April 18, revealing potential widespread exposure of customer USIM data. In response, SK Telecom offered complimentary USIM replacements to all 25 million of its subscribers, including 2 million users of budget phones, as a precaution against possible misuse.
The telecom giant has also encouraged users to register for the USIM Protection Service. To further bolster security measures, SK Telecom will halt new subscriber sign-ups at its 2,600 retail locations nationwide starting Monday. This decision aligns with a directive from the South Korean government to focus on customer security and facilitate USIM replacements.
In addition, the company has introduced an automatic enrollment program into the USIM Protection Service for individuals deemed digitally vulnerable. For international travelers, SK Telecom has established temporary booths at Incheon International Airport to facilitate on-site USIM replacements.
Subscribers using international roaming services are not eligible for the USIM Protection Service and are advised to replace their USIM chips to protect their data while traveling.