9,175 victims of SK Telecom hacking file lawsuit seeking 500,000 won compensation each - South Korean media

In the SK Telecom hacking case, 9,175 victims have filed a class action lawsuit seeking 500,000 won (approximately US$520) in compensation each.
On the 16th, 9,175 SK Telecom users filed a joint lawsuit seeking damages at the Seoul Central District Court.
Attorney Ha Hee-bong of the DA's office held a press conference in front of the Seoul Central District Court at 11 a.m. on the same day, saying, "We will hold SK Telecom, which betrayed our trust and neglected the safety of its customers, strictly accountable for its legal responsibility and will seek to settle the case in a just manner."
"We have formally filed a lawsuit seeking collective damages with the Seoul Central District Court, demanding compensation for damages," said Ha.
"This is a foreseeable man-made disaster that occurred as a result of a clear violation of the obligation to protect personal information and the obligation to promptly notify when a violation occurs," he emphasized.
Ha said, "SK Telecom was aware of the accident but failed to notify customers on May 9, more than 20 days after it had occurred, without a valid reason. It also failed to notify the relevant authorities within 24 hours."
"The notification of the incident was also delayed by more than 45 hours," he said, adding, "This is a clear violation of the legal obligation to notify and report 'without delay.' This is a serious negligence that denied the opportunity to take measures to minimize damage."
" Attorney Ha continued, "The victims are suffering from the very real fear of their SIM cards being copied and the serious anxiety that their names may be used to commit crimes.
"Not only is it inconvenient to have to replace IM cards, but it also puts a strain on daily life, such as restricting the use of certain financial services," he said. "This is a violation of the right to privacy, which is guaranteed by the Constitution.
"This is a serious violation of the right to self-determination," they said. On behalf of the victims, they are demanding that SK Telecom admit all negligence and offer a sincere apology to the victims.
The group also called on the government authorities to thoroughly investigate the cause of this incident and to clarify whether SK Telecommunications' security practices were violated.
We demanded that Com be held strictly accountable for its violation of the law and that the government immediately begin substantial institutional improvements, such as strengthening national management and supervision of telecommunications company servers, to prevent recurrence.
"Through this lawsuit, we will go beyond simple monetary compensation to correct the social responsibility of the company and contribute to creating a safe society where all citizens can use digital services with peace of mind," said Attorney Ha.
"We would like to take this opportunity to consider filing a criminal lawsuit and seeking punitive damages by proving intent and gross negligence," he added.
Kim Young-hee (66), an SK Telecom customer who participated in the lawsuit, said, "I have been a customer of SK Telecom for several decades."
"I use my cell phone almost like a bankbook, and I rely on it for all functions, so I'm shaking with anxiety, but SK Telecom has not yet come up with a solution," he said.
Attorney Ha has previously represented many victims of the "environmental hormone baby bathtub" and won lawsuits against the manufacturers.
The documents related to the matter are very important and there is a possibility that they may be copied or leaked, so unlike previous cases, I believe that the amount of damages awarded should be large."
"SK Telecom's intention and negligence were also involved in the escalation, so punitive damages should also be considered. That's why the claim amount is so high."
If a full-scale lawsuit were to begin, the court would have to decide whether SK Telecom fulfilled its obligations under the Personal Information Protection Act and the Information and Communications Network Act.
This is expected to be a major point of contention.