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Kim Hee-jung, a lawmaker of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and head of the party’s task force on SK Telecom consumer rights and data protection, speaks during a preliminary meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on April 29. / Source: Yonhap News

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) announced on April 29 that it will form an external advisory panel of technical and legal experts to address the recent hacking incident involving SK Telecom. The party’s task force on SK Telecom consumer rights and data protection will also convene an emergency meeting on May 1 at 10:30 a.m., bringing together PPP leadership, SK Telecom officials, and relevant government agencies.

At a preparatory meeting held at the National Assembly, Kim Hee-jung, who heads the task force, stated, “Our top priority is to ease public concerns over the personal data breach by promptly and accurately disclosing the cause and developments of the incident.”

She added, “We will serve as a communication channel to the public by actively providing guidance on preventive measures and safety notices to avoid further damage.”

Kim also vowed to actively consult with related companies to uphold consumer rights, saying, “Our task force will make every effort to protect consumer interests and restore public trust and safety.”

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Kim criticized the limitations of SK Telecom’s protection measures, noting that many subscribers are unaware that full compensation is limited to those enrolled in the company’s SIM protection service. “Even subscribing to that service is extremely difficult,” she said. “At the standing committee level, we will urge SK Telecom to take full responsibility for damages regardless of service enrollment.”

Kim further questioned SK Telecom’s explanation about SIM card shortages, pointing out that the company continues to accept new subscribers. “We understand that SKT is replacing SIM cards at a certain ratio, but it hasn’t disclosed how many are being reserved for new users,” she said. “We plan to demand full transparency on this matter.”

Additionally, she raised concerns about the limitations of SIM protection when roaming or traveling abroad, stating, “If physical SIM cards are in short supply, SKT should explore technical alternatives using eSIMs and report the results to our task force.”