SK Telecom is facing accusations of causing 'activation delays' centered around mobile phone stores that are not subject to sales restrictions. It appears to be an attempt to adjust the number of subscribers for the resumption of direct and agency store sales scheduled between the 20th and 21st of this month. The Ministry of Science and ICT has not yet released an official policy on 'new sales resumption.'
According to the telecommunications industry on the 20th, mobile phone stores handling SK Telecom received notices instructing them to delay the activation of subscribers recruited between the 18th and 19th by 2 to 3 days. While contracts for new SK Telecom subscribers were processed in advance, actual activations were adjusted to be after the 20th. An industry insider noted, "It seems that the 'activation delay' notice was issued to avoid criticism in case the number of new subscribers surged before the full resumption of sales."
On the 19th, at a store in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, a person surnamed Kim, 32, who was undergoing a consultation for new activation with SK Telecom, said, "I was informed that if I decide to purchase the Galaxy S25 Edge today and activate it on the 21st, I would receive better purchasing conditions."
Recently, SK Telecom has significantly increased the incentives provided to stores. By subscribing to a monthly plan of 33,000 won with a 24-month contract and purchasing the latest smartphones like the Galaxy S25 series and Edge, stores were offered an incentive of 880,000 won. This means that the incentive for selling low-cost plans is set at a level that typically requires subscribing to high-cost plans worth 800,000 to 1 million won. The company is actively recruiting 'new customers' to the extent that the incentives exceed expected subscriber revenue. The sales incentives serve as the funding for illegal subsidies (rebates).
If SK Telecom delayed the activation of a customer's mobile telecommunications service without just cause, it would be considered a prohibited act. The Korea Communications Commission previously penalized KT with a surcharge of 164.99 million won, viewing their act of delaying activation for new device pre-registrants as significantly harming user interests under Article 50, Paragraph 1, Item 5 of the Telecommunications Business Act. Reports indicate that allegations of intentional activation delays by SK Telecom have been submitted to the Commission.
The Ministry of Science and ICT has not yet decided on the full resumption of sales for SK Telecom. Last month, on the 5th, new sales were suspended at 2,600 T World stores (direct and agency), but since the 16th, activations related to non-sim card related embedded SIM (eSIM) have been possible. The Ministry has indicated that if conditions can be established that do not impact SK Telecom's SIM card replacements, sales resumption can begin. Currently, the supply of SIM cards held by SK Telecom exceeds the number of replacement waiting customers.
An official from the Ministry of Science and ICT stated, "Discussions regarding SK Telecom's new sales resumption are ongoing, but no decisions have been made yet."
SK Telecom has distanced itself from the allegations of intentional activation delays, stating, "This is not a policy from headquarters." The company mentioned, "It seems that some stores have engaged in deviant behavior anticipating a high unit price," and added, "We are guiding (proper sales practices) through continuous on-site monitoring and will impose strong penalties against activation delay practices through our policies to prevent illegal and improper sales."