South Korean telecom CEOs pledge massive security investments

South Korea's Personal Information Protection Commission Chairperson Song Kyung-hee met with the CEOs of the nation's three major telecommunications companies—SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus—to elevate data privacy to a core management priority.

Following recent data breach incidents, the companies signed a joint declaration to establish a responsibility governance system centered on CEOs and boards of directors. The initiative aims to shift from reactive responses to a proactive, prevention-oriented system that integrates Privacy by Design (PbD) into the entire lifecycle of service planning, development, and operation.

Each company announced significant financial commitments to bolster security:

• SK Telecom plans to invest 700 billion won over the next five years, emphasizing a ‘privacy first’ principle for all employees and implementing AI governance to manage data risks.

• KT will invest 2.2 trillion won over five years, covering both security measures and the modernization of IT infrastructure to provide a more stable foundation for data protection.

• LG Uplus committed to strengthening its preemptive prevention system, treating personal information protection as a matter of responsible management in the era of AI and digital transformation.