Free SKT SIM Card Replacement Starting Next Week: Is a Service Center Visit Required?

# SK Telecom Announces Free USIM Replacement Program After Data Breach SK Telecom will provide free Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) card replacements for all customers starting October 28. This initiative follows a data breach where hackers leaked USIM information, raising concerns about potential criminal misuse. The decision aims to alleviate subscriber fears of crimes like SIM swapping, where hackers clone USIM cards to commit fraud. ## Ensuring Safety with USIM Card Replacements USIM data breach poses serious risks. If stolen, hackers can clone USIMs and use them for fraudulent activities, including SIM swapping. This threat has previously targeted telecom users, notably in 2022. Preliminary investigations by SK Telecom indicate that only partial data, such as International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) and International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), was potentially leaked. Sensitive personal details like names, Social Security numbers, and addresses appear safe. However, the full extent of the breach is still under investigation by cybersecurity and law enforcement authorities. SK Telecom advises against jumping to conclusions about the data theft's severity. Despite low current risks of SIM-swapping crimes, SK Telecom assures its Fraud Detection System (FDS), implemented in 2023, effectively blocks suspicious verification attempts. This system intercepts potential SIM-swapping attacks, adding another security layer. SK Telecom also offers a free "USIM Protection Service," preventing external USIM duplication. Customers can register via the T World app or by calling 114 at no cost. Since October 25, SMS notifications about the service have been sent to five million customers daily. This service extends to SK Telecom subscribers and customers of mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) using the SK Telecom network. Experts agree that USIM replacement remains the safest measure against potential threats, ensuring stolen information becomes useless to hackers. Lee Jong-hoon, Head of SK Telecom's Infrastructure Strategy Division, said, "The USIM Protection Service prevents USIM cloning or tampering. Combined with a new USIM, this offers the fundamental solution to customers' concerns." ## Replacement Procedure: Free at Designated Locations, ID Required The free USIM replacement program starts at 10 a.m. on October 28. It is available to all SK Telecom subscribers registered by midnight on October 18. Subscribers post-dating this registration received unaffected USIM cards. Shared data USIMs, like those for tablets, are also eligible. Replacements must be performed at authorized SK Telecom stores. Stores selling SIMs from all major carriers will not handle replacements. USIM replacements are also available at airport roaming centers for traveling subscribers who cannot visit a store, ensuring they swap cards before departure since the USIM Protection Service is unavailable during roaming. For eSIM users, replacements can be downloaded remotely or processed at SK Telecom locations. Customers should make reservations in advance to avoid long waits. Devices such as some smartwatches and children's phones with embedded USIMs are excluded from this initiative due to technical limitations. To replace a USIM, customers must present valid identification. Those storing phone numbers or certificates on their USIMs should transfer this data to their smartphones before the exchange. Certificates that cannot be transferred will need reissuance from respective financial institutions following the USIM replacement. MVNO subscribers using the SK Telecom network are also eligible for free USIM replacements via their service providers. ## Reimbursements for Previously Replaced USIMs Customers who replaced USIMs before the program launch can receive reimbursement for incurred costs. This policy extends to eSIMs, with refunds processed through billing discounts. If all 24.8 million SK Telecom subscribers replaced their USIMs, customer benefits could total approximately KRW 191 billion at a retail price of KRW 7,700 per unit. However, analysts estimate SK Telecom's actual expenditure at around KRW 74.4 billion, considering a KRW 3,000 wholesale cost per USIM. Baek Byung-chan, Head of SK Telecom’s Mobile Network Operations Division, commented, “While the total number of customers is fixed, various factors impact individual costs, such as the type of USIM card and supplier agreements. Exact cost calculations will be clarified later.” SK Telecom plans to expand USIM Protection Service compatibility by next month, ensuring roaming customers also benefit from enhanced security.