- The Korea Communications Commission mandates SK Telecom to shoulder 50 % of cancellation fees for non-mobile services bundled with mobile packages, following a major data breach affecting some 25 million users.
- The regulator also orders SK Telecom to extend its penalty-waiver deadline through the end of 2025, ensuring all affected mobile users can cancel without fee regardless of when they apply.
What happened: KCC orders SK Telecom to cover half of bundled service cancellation fees after breach
On 21 August 2025, the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) rules that SK Telecom must assume 50 % of cancellation fees for non-mobile services—such as internet and TV—that are bundled with mobile contracts. The KCC finds that SK Telecom “violated the main obligation of the contract to provide secure communication services” and that terminating the combined product was “an unavoidable measure due to SK Telecom’s negligence”. The regulator further orders SK Telecom to extend its mid-July deadline for compensation applications, allowing subscribers to file for a waiver at any point during the remainder of 2025.
Also read: SK Telecom sees Q1 AI growth
Also read: SK apologises for data breach at SK Telecom
Why it’s important
This decision underscores the growing accountability demanded of telecom operators in the event of cybersecurity failures. The April breach—exposing USIM data of around 25 million users—already prompted financial damage, including an operating-profit drop of 37 % and net profit fall of 76 % in Q2, partly due to free USIM replacements and subscriber churn. The KCC’s order further shifts the burden of remediation onto SK Telecom, signalling that negligence in safeguarding user data can now translate directly into commercial penalties.
This is positive in demonstrating enforcement that balances consumer protection and corporate responsibility; SK Telecom is compelled not only to compensate in pragmatic ways but to rethink how it sells bundled services and manages customer risk. The broader telecom industry should take heed—bundled offerings must be accompanied by better transparency and crisis-ready contract terms. The regulator’s insistence on extending the waiver period also shows an understanding that consumers need time to respond to disruption and should not be penalised by rigid deadlines.
