The impact of the hacking attack on SK Telecom's subscriber universal subscriber identity module (USIM) information theft is spreading. Due to security concerns, users are rushing to stores, leading to a depletion of USIM stock at branches, and access to identity theft prevention services is also delayed.
According to the industry, during the weekend, subscribers turned away from SK Telecom stores across the country, including in Seoul, as USIM stock was exhausted. Although SK Telecom promised free USIM replacements starting at 10 a.m. on the 28th, the influx of anxious customers contributed to the situation.
Posts have appeared in online communities stating, "I found a store, but there were no USIMs available for replacement," and inquiries about finding stores with available stock continue.
SK Telecom has decided to provide free USIM replacements at all T World stores and airport roaming centers. Between the 19th and the 27th, subscribers who replaced their USIMs at their own expense will be refunded the expense through discounts and other means. With approximately 23 million subscribers and 1.87 million budget phone users on the network, around 25 million USIM replacements are anticipated, raising concerns over supply shortages.
A SK Telecom official noted, "We are trying to secure as much stock as possible, but there may be shortages initially," and explained, "In cases of shortages, we plan to accept replacement reservations and will replace them in order as stock becomes available."
Meanwhile, as subscribers concerned about identity theft flocked, access to the PASS application and site is also delayed. On this day, when SK Telecom subscribers accessed the PASS app, a service delay notification appeared, and the access issues that began in the morning continued until 3:15 p.m.
The PASS team stated, "Service delays are occurring due to a surge in demand for identity theft prevention services, and we are currently working on stabilizing the situation," adding, "We are making efforts for expedited normalization." They did not specify a timeline for when stability would be expected.
When users click on the "identity theft prevention service" in the PASS app, they receive a notification saying, "Currently, there are too many users," along with restricted access. In contrast, subscribers from other telecommunications companies can use the service normally, exacerbating the inconvenience for SK Telecom subscribers.
The M-Safe homepage is also experiencing access delays due to a queue of users. When accessing the site, the number of people waiting and the waiting time are displayed, along with a notification that states the user is in a queue.