A small KT mobile communication device installed at a Seoul subway station. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Korea Bizwire) — Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said Monday the government will overhaul data protection systems at telecoms and financial companies following a series of security breaches at mobile carriers and a credit card issuer.
Kim made the remark during an emergency government meeting convened to discuss responses to the hacking incidents at SK Telecom Co., KT Corp. and Lotte Card Co.
“The government is deeply sorry and heavy-hearted that the people’s personal information has been leaked and their precious assets have been used in unauthorized payments,” the prime minister said in opening remarks.
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok speaks during a press conference at the government complex in Seoul. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
“The government will carry out a complete overhaul of data protection systems at telecoms and financial companies so that similar hacking incidents do not recur,” he said during the meeting, which brought together officials from the Financial Services Commission, the Personal Information Protection Commission and other relevant agencies.
In April, SK Telecom reported that private data of its entire user base may have been leaked in a cyberattack on its network servers, while KT, another mobile carrier, has reported illegal micropayments involving 362 subscribers in recent weeks.
Last month, Lotte Card’s servers were hacked, compromising the personal information of some 3 million customers.
“We will devise all possible damage remedies so that those affected will not experience inconveniences,” Kim said. “We will also verify whether there are any hidden victims in channels that have yet to be uncovered.”
The prime minister further vowed to thoroughly investigate the causes of the incidents and any shortcomings in companies’ security management systems.
(Yonhap)
