SK Chairman Chey Tae-won Apologizes for Data Breach Affecting 25 Million Users

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won publicly apologized for a major cyberattack at SK Telecom that resulted in a significant data breach, compromising USIM information of approximately 25 million users. The breach, discovered on April 18, was caused by a malware attack on a key internal system, though the exact cause and perpetrator remain unknown. In response, SK Telecom is providing free USIM card replacements to all affected customers, including 2 million budget phone users, to prevent further losses and restore trust. Chey acknowledged the inadequate communication and response following the incident, and pledged to fully cooperate with government investigations. Additionally, SK Group will review and strengthen cybersecurity across all affiliates, expand investment in security systems, and establish an information protection innovation committee of outside experts. Chey emphasized the importance of treating cybersecurity as a matter of national security and committed to improving the group’s overall cyber defenses.