**KT Apologizes for Increased Fraud Cases and Enhances Protective Measures**
KT recently reported that the number of customers affected by illicit small payment transactions has increased from 278 to 362, with the accumulated financial damage totaling 240 million won as of the 18th.
The company identified two additional illegal micro-base stations, bringing the total to four. Approximately 20,000 people were found to have received signals from these stations.
KT confirmed that all the incidents occurred before September 5, with no further cases since then. No personal information such as customer names or birthdates, as well as USIM authentication keys, was leaked, which means the risk of cloned phones is unlikely.
KT has completed supplementary reports to the Personal Information Protection Commission and is individually notifying affected customers by text message and app, providing information on reporting and checking damages, and instructions on USIM card replacement and protection service registration.
Affected customers will not bear the cost of the small payment transactions, and KT is offering free USIM replacements and subscribing affected customers to USIM protection services.
To prevent future abuse of illegal micro-base stations, KT plans to enhance its network management and reinforce real-time monitoring to block abnormal transactions.
Additionally, KT intends to transform its 2,000 stores into “safety assurance” specialist locations and will offer affected customers three years of free “KT Safety Insurance” (provisional name) to compensate for any fraud-related incidents linked to mobile device usage.
A KT representative stated, “We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and concerns caused to our customers. We prioritize the protection of affected customers and will thoroughly pursue measures to prevent recurrence and improve our systems.”