Seoul: LG Uplus Corp., South Korea's third-biggest mobile carrier, announced plans to invest 700 billion won (US$502.6 million) over the next five years to bolster its network security and information protection capabilities. The company aims to enhance cybersecurity measures and provide complete network security to its customers through strategic investments.
According to Yonhap News Agency, LG Uplus Chief Information Security Officer Hong Kwan-hee emphasized the company's commitment to cybersecurity during a press conference at its Seoul headquarters. He highlighted the company's systematic approach to improving security levels, stating, "LG Uplus has recognized the importance of cybersecurity earlier than any other company in South Korea."
In response to a data breach earlier in 2023, LG Uplus has intensified its efforts in cybersecurity by establishing an information security center that reports directly to the chief executive officer. This center oversees cybersecurity across the organization, with Hong participating in key decision-making processes.
The company's cybersecurity spending reached 82.8 billion won last year, marking a 31.3 percent increase from the previous year. LG Uplus also expanded its cybersecurity workforce, hiring 293 personnel in 2024 compared to 157 in 2023. Hong outlined plans to invest 700 billion won over the next five years, including up to 140 billion won in 2025, with annual investments projected between 120 to 150 billion won.
In an effort to strengthen its response capabilities, LG Uplus has been conducting black-box penetration testing since November in collaboration with white hat hackers. This initiative aims to uncover potential vulnerabilities in its systems and applications, making it the longest and largest project in the country to identify potential cyber risks.
Moreover, LG Uplus plans to implement a "zero trust" security model by 2027, utilizing artificial intelligence to automatically detect and block abnormal access attempts. This model operates on the principle of "never trust, always verify."
The focus on cybersecurity and information protection has intensified following a major data breach reported by SK Telecom Co., the country's largest mobile carrier, in April. The incident affected its entire user base of 25 million, prompting SK Telecom to announce a comprehensive compensation package and cybersecurity investment plan worth more than 1 trillion won in total.