Daeryun files second joint lawsuit over ‘SKT hacking’… “There is sufficient possibility of compensation for damages”

In the second round, 331 civil cases and 43 criminal cases were added... A total of 637 civil and criminal participants in the 1st and 2nd rounds.
SKT’s negligence is objectively revealed… Damages may be acknowledged
Dae-Ryun “Public interest litigation that protects the rights of the people… We will actively seek actual accountability.”

In relation to the SK Telecom (SKT) SIM information hacking incident, Daeryun Law Firm is taking full-scale legal action, including filing a secondary criminal complaint and complaint and civil suit on behalf of the victims.

On the 5th of this month, following the 1st of last month, Daeryun filed a criminal complaint against SK Telecom CEO Yoo Young-sang and those responsible for security at the Namdaemun Police Station in Seoul on behalf of 43 victims secured through the second internal recruitment. The content is the same as the first case, charges of breach of trust and obstruction of business, and the key point is that it neglected its information protection obligations as a telecommunications company.

Then, on the 12th, Daeryun filed a second civil claim for damages at the Seoul Central District Court on behalf of 331 victims. As a result, a total of 581 people, including those who participated in the first civil lawsuit filed on the 27th of last month, have participated in the process of seeking civil and criminal liability through Daeryun. The civil lawsuit claim amount is 1 million won per person.

Amid continued criticism that SK Telecom's poor security management, such as non-encryption of SIM card information, non-preservation of server logs, and lack of security investment, contributed to the incident, attention is focused on the level of disciplinary action ahead of the announcement of the final investigation results of the SK Telecom public-private joint investigation team into the breach. As a result of the recent additional investigation by the investigation team, it was confirmed that over 290,000 pieces of sensitive information, including unique device identification numbers (IMEI), were stored on the hacked server, and the situation is spreading rapidly.

Daeryun is taking legal action by establishing a system led by the 'Special Action Headquarters (Special Department)' led by lawyer Cho Young-gon, a former Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office chief, and Yeo Sang-won, a former Supreme Court trial researcher. Attorney Yeo explained, “There were a huge number of victims, and in the process of dealing with the damage, we plan to actively assert the direct and additional damage caused by SK Telecom’s efforts to conceal the hacking, as well as the victims’ anxiety about their information being exposed.”

Attorney Yeo also refuted some of the skeptical views surrounding this lawsuit. It is not right to unconditionally deny the possibility of winning the case simply because there is no precedent for punitive damages being recognized in relation to personal information infringement incidents.

Attorney Yeo said, “This case is an unusual case in which SK Telecom’s serious negligence was objectively revealed,” and added, “If the results of the investigation by the public-private joint investigation team, which will be announced later, are used as supporting evidence, liability for damages may be acknowledged.”

Attorney Cho Young-gon said, "Sensitive information stored on a hacked server can be seen as evidence for mass hacking," and added, "IMEI, ICCID, etc., which appear to have been leaked in this incident, can lead to financial fraud, identity theft, and invasion of privacy, so the leak itself not only poses a serious risk, but also causes mental damage to individuals."

He added, "The Constitution and the Personal Information Protection Act make it clear that the responsibility for preventing the possibility of damage lies with the business operator. The reasons why victims have been disadvantaged in class action lawsuits so far are the asymmetry of technical information, the passivity of the judiciary, and the burden of proof structure. As Daeryun recognizes this case as a public interest lawsuit to protect the rights and interests of the entire public, we will hold the company accountable and respond thoroughly to ensure that the victims can recover their rights."

Meanwhile, Daeryun plans to continue recruiting victims and sequentially file additional complaints. In addition, we plan to carry out follow-up procedures, including securing evidence of SK Telecom's intentional or gross negligence, following the investigation team's final announcement.

Reporter Park Jae-gwan (paksunbi@fnnews.com)

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