The three major telecom companies in South Korea—SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus—are accelerating their investments in information security. Last year, KT invested 127.6 billion won (approximately $107 million), the highest among the three companies, while LG Uplus also recorded its largest investment ever at 96.6 billion won. SK Telecom has published a white paper on information security and plans to invest 700 billion won over the next five years to enhance its security capabilities in the AI era.
According to the telecom industry on July 8, SK Telecom released its information security white paper on July 1, outlining a long-term roadmap that includes governance, security architecture, and personal data protection systems. The company plans to invest approximately 700 billion won over the next five years to establish a zero trust-based security system and an AI-driven threat detection and analysis system, while also strengthening customer protection measures. A governance structure will be established where the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) reports directly to the board of directors, and the company will gradually enhance AI-based security operations, supply chain security, and personal data protection systems.
KT maintained its annual investment in information security above 100 billion won for four consecutive years, with a total investment of 127.6 billion won last year, making it the largest investment among telecom companies and the third largest for a single company in South Korea. The company employs 317 dedicated information security personnel, with more than half being internal experts.
KT is also developing a long-term training system for security professionals. It operates a security academy for IT and network developers and is working with Seoul National University to establish a contract program in information security. Additionally, KT is advancing a zero trust-based continuous prevention system and enhancing AI-based security technologies. Recently, the company announced plans to invest approximately 12 trillion won in information security and IT over the next three years, with 4 trillion won allocated specifically for information security and IT innovation.
LG Uplus is strengthening its AI-based security system through a dedicated information security center reporting directly to the CEO. Last year, the company’s investment in information security reached 96.6 billion won, a 16.7% increase from the previous year, and its investment over the past five years has more than tripled from 29.2 billion won to 96.6 billion won. The number of dedicated information security personnel has also expanded from 91 to 351 during the same period.
LG Uplus is gradually establishing an AI-based integrated security monitoring system and a zero trust-based authentication and access control system. By 2027, the company plans to automate anomaly detection and access control using AI, while also enhancing its 'Customer Damage Prevention Analysis System' to detect voice phishing and smishing, thereby improving its proactive response capabilities.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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