SK Telecom, KT, LG Uplus vow security overhaul after data breaches
South Korea’s three major telecom operators on Thursday pledged sweeping changes — from tighter security to broader access and expanded investment in artificial intelligence — as they seek to rebuild public trust after a string of cyber incidents.
“Today’s discussion is about how the telecom industry can regain public trust, support people’s daily lives and define its role going forward,” Deputy Prime Minister and ICT Minister Bae Kyung-hoon said during a meeting with SK Telecom CEO Jung Jai-hun, KT Corp. CEO Park Yoon-young and LG Uplus CEO Hong Bum-shik in Seoul, underscoring the urgency.
“Recent hacking incidents have affected both telecom operators and the public. We need to make sure this doesn’t happen again — and that means a fundamental shift in how we approach things.”
Bae called on the three carriers to overhaul their security approach, strengthen basic communications access and expand investment in AI-driven networks.
Jung pointed to mounting economic uncertainty but said the company would align with government policy. “Global conditions are shifting quickly, and the business environment is getting tougher,” he said. “We’ll work closely with the government and do our part.”
“Last year, there were several incidents that caused concern. We take that seriously,” Jung added. “We’re focused on rebuilding trust — that’s the core of our business — and making sure we’re ready to lead in what’s coming next.”
“We’re also preparing to invest more heavily in AI infrastructure, which will be key to the industry going forward.”
Park also issued an apology. “We’re sorry for the concern and inconvenience caused by last year’s hacking incident,” he said. “Since taking office, I’ve been visiting network sites to check things firsthand and make sure there are no gaps in security or operations.”
“We fully support the government’s direction on strengthening basic communications access,” Park added. “As a national backbone provider, we’re looking at ways to keep service quality high while also easing the cost burden for users.”
Beyond immediate fixes, all three companies pointed to AI as the next focus.
“We’re bringing AI deeper into network operations to improve both stability and efficiency,” Park said. “At the same time, we’ll keep pushing forward with technologies like 5G, satellite and quantum communications.”
LG Uplus CEO Hong Bum-shik emphasized the sector’s broader responsibility. “Telecom isn’t just about connectivity anymore. It’s a core part of everyday life, and that comes with real responsibility,” he said.
“We take public concerns seriously and will continue to strengthen our focus on security, quality and safety. At the same time, we’re building out our AI capabilities with the goal of becoming a global AI software company.”
“We’ll also support government efforts to expand AI literacy, so more people can access and use these technologies in their daily lives,” he added.
The three operators also issued a joint declaration, pledging to strengthen cybersecurity, align more closely with government policies on universal connectivity, and step up investment in AI and next-generation networks.
They said they would build a security framework resilient against cyber threats, ensure all citizens have access to high-quality telecom services, and take the lead in advancing AI-driven innovation to bolster Korea’s global digital competitiveness.
Following the declaration, Bae said the agreement would help restore public trust and confirmed plans to launch a quarterly CEO consultative body to coordinate security efforts and set future directions.
“We will launch a quarterly CEO consultative body and share discussions among chief information security officers, working together with telecom operators to identify solutions and set the direction going forward,” he said.
In a subsequent briefing to reporters, Choi Woo-hyuk, director general of the cybersecurity and network policy bureau at the ICT Ministry, said improving telecom services closely tied to everyday life was also a key agenda.
He noted that the three carriers plan to introduce data safety options and expand benefits for senior citizens, while upgrading subway Wi-Fi to a 5G-based system and improving connectivity on high-speed rail.
“The latest revision to pricing plans is expected to deliver benefits worth around 3.8 trillion won ($2.57 billion) to consumers,” Choi said.
The discussion on pricing follows earlier talks between the minister and telecom CEOs on introducing bundled 5G plans in the 20,000 won range, as part of a broader overhaul of the fee structure. The average cost of 5G plans currently stands at around 53,000 won.
Both sides also agreed to accelerate network upgrades to support AI-driven services. The telecom operators plan to increase spending on next-generation networks and AI by about 15 percent from last year, while the government pledged to expand user-centric quality assessments and policy support for AI development.
By Jie Ye-eun (yeeun@heraldcorp.com)
