LG Uplus CEO Hong Beom-sik Promises Customer Protection but Gives No Clear Answer on Waiving Penalty Fees

LG Uplus CEO Hong Beom-sik pledged to take responsibility for the hacking incident, but avoided giving a clear answer on whether penalty fees would be waived. Hong appeared as a witness at the National Assembly Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee's comprehensive audit on the 23rd. When ruling and opposition lawmakers asked whether subscriber penalty fees would be waived if intentional concealment or obstruction of the investigation were confirmed, he replied, "Once the judicial authorities make a ruling and the government issues guidelines, we will fulfill our appropriate responsibilities accordingly." However, he gave no definite answer regarding the waiver of number-portability penalty fees, the scale of eligible subscribers, or retroactive refunds.

When it was pointed out that measures to preserve server data during the investigation had been inadequate, Hong Kwan-hee, LG Uplus's Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), apologized, saying, "We are once again sorry for the shortcomings."

People Power Party lawmaker Cho Kyung-tae noted that the company had failed to adequately explain to customers the security risks related to the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) and the need to replace or update USIMs. In response, Deputy Prime Minister Bae Kyung-hoon said he would instruct the company to strengthen its guidance.