LG Uplus is latest South Korean telco to confirm cybersecurity incident

LG Uplus, one of the largest telecom operators in South Korea, has confirmed to TechCrunch that it has reported a suspected data breach to Korea’s national cybersecurity watchdog KISA, but did not say when the results of its investigation would be available.

All three major South Korean telecom providers, SK Telecom, KT Telecom, and now LG Uplus, have reported cybersecurity incidents over the past six months, pending confirmation from the Korean government.

South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT told TechCrunch that its investigation into KT and LG Uplus, launched last month, is still ongoing, amid a report that the companies may have faced cyberattacks similar to the recent breach at SK Telecom.

Back in July, KISA also reportedly spotted signs of a possible hack and asked LG Uplus to file a formal report. In August, LG’s telecom division initially denied any signs of a breach, even as KT reported that data from users had been exposed following the connection of unauthorized micro base stations to its network. KISA declined to comment.

The move comes about two months after the hacking magazine Phrack claimed that hackers from China or North Korea had stolen data from close to 9,000 LG Uplus servers.

LG Uplus’s report comes amid a wave of high-profile hacks in South Korea affecting telecoms, credit card companies, tech startups, and government agencies, highlighting vulnerabilities previously reported by TechCrunch.

South Korea’s fragmented cybersecurity system and a shortage of experts have hindered the country’s response to the cyber threats.