KT ordered to pay data-leak victims

KT Corp., the nation’s second-largest mobile carrier, was ordered by a local district court Friday to pay 100,000 won ($97) in compensation to each customer who had personal data leaked in 2012.

The Seoul Central District Court’s ruling came after some 28,000 KT users filed a lawsuit against the mobile carrier for the leak of sensitive personal information, demanding compensation of 500,000 won per person.

Police earlier discovered that the personal information of 8.7 million users, including social security numbers, was leaked by two hackers in July 2012, and KT was unaware of the case for around five months.

KT said it will immediately appeal the case, calling the incident inevitable, and saying it will prove the company had implemented sufficient precautionary measures.

“KT will continue to expand investment in security infrastructure and specialists, amid hackers’ evolving techniques,” the company added. (Yonhap)