The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Minister Yoo Sang-im) and the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA, President Lee Sang-jung) announced that they received a report from SK Telecom (SKT) regarding a significant data breach at 16:46 on Sunday, April 20. An investigation is currently underway to determine the extent of the breach and its underlying cause.

Upon notification, MSIT and KISA promptly requested SKT to preserve and submit all relevant evidence related to the incident at 14:10 on Monday, April 21. To support the investigation and prevent further damage, KISA dispatched technical experts to the site at 20:00 the same day to provide on-site assistance.

Given the gravity of the incident-including the potential exposure of personal information and critical cybersecurity vulnerabilities-MSIT has established an Emergency Response Task Force, led by the Director-General of the Cyber Security and Network Policy Bureau, to coordinate a comprehensive response.

If warranted, MSIT will assemble a public-private joint investigation team* to conduct an in-depth analysis of the root cause and develop measures to prevent recurrence. 

*From 2014 to 2023, a total of six such joint teams have been convened, typically operating for one to two months each.

Any technical or managerial security deficiencies identified at SKT during the investigation will be subject to corrective orders to ensure appropriate improvements are implemented.

Choi Woo-hyuk, Director-General of the Cyber Security and Network Policy Bureau at MSIT, stated, “We will ensure thorough oversight and management of major companies and institutions to enhance information security for essential ICT infrastructure and services that are integral to the daily lives of the public.”

For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division (Phone: +82-44-202-4034, E-mail: msitmedia@korea.kr) of the Ministry of Science and ICT. 

Please refer to the attached PDF.