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Photo = Yonhap news |
[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won publicly apologized on May 7 for the recent hacking incident involving SK Telecom customer data—19 days after the breach was first reported.
At a press conference held at SK Telecom’s headquarters in Seoul, Chairman Chey bowed in apology and pledged stronger cybersecurity measures. “The recent cyberattack on SK Telecom caused significant concern and inconvenience for our customers and the public,” he said. “As Chairman of SK Group, I sincerely apologize.”
Chey announced the formation of a Security and Information Protection Innovation Committee under the group’s SUPEX Council, the highest decision-making body within SK Group. He emphasized that the committee, which will consist entirely of external experts, will aim to enhance security protocols and raise compensation standards across all affiliates.
Chairman Stops Short of Promising Penalty-Free Contract Terminations
When asked about waiving cancellation penalties for affected customers, Chey deferred, stating that legal and fairness-related issues need to be reviewed. “The SK Telecom Board of Directors is currently discussing the matter,” he said, noting that he is not a board member and cannot speak on its behalf.
Mounting Criticism Over Response and Congressional No-Show
Chey’s apology comes amid intensifying public criticism of SK’s delayed and insufficient response to the incident. His absence from a National Assembly hearing scheduled for May 8 has also drawn backlash. SK Group cited Chey’s prior commitment to a U.S.-Korea trade event hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM), in preparation for the upcoming APEC Ministerial Meetings.
Public anger has escalated as SK Telecom struggled for over 10 days to contain the breach, affecting an estimated 25 million subscribers. Critics have also pointed out that the company has failed to honor its own bylaws, which allow for penalty-free cancellations in the event of a company-attributed breach.
According to industry data, SK Telecom experienced a massive outflow of users, with 201,976 subscribers switching to rival carriers between April 27 and May 3—nine times the typical weekly average of 22,528. That equates to an average of nearly 30,000 customer defections per day during that period.
Alphabiz Reporter Paul Lee(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
