📡 Key Questions Raised by Representative Choi Min-hee on the SK Telecom Hacking Cover-up Allegations

“We need to protect victims under telecom company accountability”… From demands for penalty exemptions to anticipated National Assembly hearings

🔍 Why was the initial response to the hacking incident so delayed?

The strongest criticism raised by Representative Choi Min-hee was the “two-day reporting delay.” 🚨 It’s clearly a problem that they did not notify customers about the hacking incident while knowing it, nor reported it to the relevant authorities in time. I had a similar experience when I was victimized by a credit card hacking incident, and I remember feeling frustrated due to the slow response.

According to data submitted to KISA, SK Telecom confirmed the hacking on April 25 but did not report it until the 27th. Thinking about how much customer information could have been leaked in the meantime is truly terrifying. Representative Choi emphasized, “If the initial response had been proper, the damage could have been significantly reduced,” and I completely agree!

⚖️ “Penalty exemption is necessary” vs “Legal review needed” – A tug of war

Representative Choi Min-hee focused on Article 44 of the SK Telecom Terms of Service. This provision states that “penalties will be waived in cases of damage due to the telecom company’s fault,” but it usually goes unnoticed. 📜 Representative Choi argued, “If the hacking incident is due to SK Telecom’s lax security, this clause should be applied to eliminate the penalties for number portability,” which was a very sharp observation!

However, SK Telecom’s CEO Yoo Young-sang evaded the issue by saying, “This is not a matter for us to decide alone.” In my opinion, this seems like a clear attempt to shirk responsibility. It’s appalling for consumers when all three telecom companies collect penalties while saying, “Let’s review it together.” Take this opportunity to check your own telecom company’s terms of service. There are many surprising clauses to discover!

🕵️ Are the details of Chairman Choi Tae-won’s SIM card changes included? Persistent information requests

Among Representative Choi’s inquiries, the most striking was the question about “the status of SIM card changes for executives including Chairman Choi Tae-won.” This really struck a chord! If only executives took special actions, wouldn’t that be a clear case of discrimination? 🚫

A friend working in the IT industry mentioned that major corporations often take immediate action through separate systems for executives when security incidents occur. If SK Telecom did the same… it would be a big problem. I can understand why Representative Choi stressed that this is crucial for assessing the scale of damage.

💡 The secret of Article 44 of the SK Telecom Terms of Service that 80% of the public do not know

This incident has highlighted how we know too little about the contracts we have with telecom providers. According to a Korea Consumer Agency survey, fewer than 20% of people read the terms of service all the way through. 😱

Particularly, clauses like Article 44 are overlooked until issues arise. From what I found out from a law firm, if the telecom company’s negligence is proven, you can demand penalty exemptions. As a result of this incident, make sure you check your telecom company’s terms of service! You can easily find it on the SK Telecom official website.

🛡️ Lessons from this incident and what we need to prepare for

This incident has shown that we need to inspect the national security system beyond just simple personal data breaches. The anticipated National Assembly hearing announced by Representative Choi will be an area of interest. 📈

I personally suggest three things!
1. Telecom companies must be mandated to make incidents public within 24 hours of occurrence
2. Exemption criteria for penalties should be clearly established, and consumers should be able to apply easily
3. Discrimination between security measures for employees and ordinary customers must be strictly prohibited!
What do you think?

❓ Q&A to clarify your doubts

Q1. What kind of damage has occurred due to the SK Telecom hacking incident?

So far, it has been confirmed that the personal information of over 12,000 people has been leaked. There are concerns about secondary damage primarily through SIM card duplication.

Q2. How can I check if my information has been leaked?

You can check with the SK Telecom customer service (1599-0011) or visit the KISA website. If you have recently received unusual messages, make sure to check!

Q3. How can I receive an exemption from penalties?

Currently, SK Telecom only stated that it is “under individual review.” If Representative Choi’s claims are accepted, there is a possibility of automatic exemptions without separate procedures.

Q4. Is it really penalty-free when moving to another telecom company?

This is only possible if the telecom company’s fault is legally recognized. Normally, penalties are around 33,000 won, but chances of exemption have increased significantly in this incident.

Q5. What personal measures should I take?

1. Be sure to set a SIM lock!
2. Request two-factor authentication from your telecom company
3. Regularly check to ensure there are no unusual charges.

💬 [Epilogue] Feelings of someone who has experienced data leakage

I was also a victim of a hacking incident at a credit card company three years ago. What I felt back then was really “Why is it only me suffering?” Such frustration!

Watching the SK Telecom incident brought back memories. I realized that the “victim-centered approach” emphasized by Representative Choi is truly urgent. Companies always say they will strengthen their systems after major incidents, but what really matters is how to protect those who have already suffered, right?

What do you think? If you have had similar experiences, please share in the comments! Our voices need to unite for true change! ✊

#SKTHacking #ChoiMinhee #PenaltyExemption #DataProtection #TelecomResponsibility #TermsOfService #SIMCardDuplication #NationalAssemblyHearing #CyberSecurity #ConsumerRights