Development and verification accelerated for early October rollout

Updates to run on weekdays during daytime hours

Eligible customers to receive advance notice; deferrals available

A customer checks an advance notification message about the automatic SIM card update. [LG Uplus]
A customer checks an advance notification message about the automatic SIM card update. [LG Uplus]

LG Uplus will begin automatically updating its customers' SIM cards, a move prompted by earlier criticism that the company's subscriber identification number system lacked random-number encryption, leaving it potentially vulnerable to security breaches.

The carrier announced Wednesday that it will roll out automatic USIM and eSIM updates in stages starting Thursday.

The update targets customers who have not yet updated or replaced their SIM cards and whose devices support automatic updates. Eligible users include individual customers — among them minors and foreign nationals — as well as corporate subscribers, mobile virtual network operator customers and eSIM users.

However, customers currently abroad will not receive the automatic update, as they cannot access domestic networks.

Updates will be carried out on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Customers who experience any inconvenience during the process can reach a 24-hour free SIM card support line at 080-864-1010 or contact the company through its KakaoTalk customer service channel.

LG Uplus also plans to operate dedicated service corners at 1,709 stores nationwide to handle customer inquiries and provide on-site support.

Information about the automatic update is available through the U+one app, the company's website, retail stores and social media. Customers will receive individual notifications — via text message and KakaoTalk — at least three times: two weeks, one week and one day before their scheduled update date.

Customers who do not want the automatic update or cannot proceed on their scheduled date may request a deferral. Deferrals can be applied for through the notification message, the U+one app, the company's website or the SIM card support center, and approved requests will push the update schedule to the end of the year.

Meanwhile, LG Uplus urged customers to be especially wary of spam and phishing text messages impersonating the company.

"This automatic update is an expansion of the proactive security measures we have been pursuing since April, making it easier for customers to benefit without having to go through a separate application process," LG Uplus Chief Technology Officer Lee Sang-yeop said. "We will continue to provide careful support to the end so that as many customers as possible can have the security enhancements applied without inconvenience."


ko@heraldcorp.com