SK Telecom will begin replacing the USIM cards of all 23 million of its customers starting Monday, the company said, after a recent cyberattack raised concerns about potential SIM-swapping threats. The move follows a public apology by SK Telecom executives and a pledge to provide free USIM replacements and compensation for any damages caused. As of Sunday evening, more than 5.5 million users had enrolled in a separate USIM protection service launched last week.

The Ministry of Science and ICT separately announced Sunday that it had held emergency consultations with SK Telecom to minimize customer damages and delays. Under government supervision, the company agreed to prioritize vulnerable populations, install additional support booths at airports for overseas travelers and launch a reservation system to manage demand at retail locations. The ministry added that a joint public-private investigation into the breach is ongoing and that authorities would fully disclose their findings once the probe concludes.