SK Telecom Co., South Korea's largest mobile carrier, saw a massive influx of over 340,000 new customers through mobile number portability (MNP) in January, capitalizing on KT Corp.'s decision to waive early termination fees in the wake of a major data breach. Industry data released Monday revealed that exactly 342,000 users switched to SK Telecom via MNP last month, marking a staggering 184.7 percent increase, or about 222,000 additional users, compared to December.
The data, compiled by the Korean Telecommunications Operators Association, highlighted a significant migration from rivals. Of the total inflow to SK Telecom, 221,000 users came from KT—more than quadruple the 45,000 who switched the previous month—while another 73,000 moved over from LG Uplus Corp.
A retail store of SK Telecom in Seoul, captured in a June 24, 2025, file photo by Korea Times photographer Kang Ye-jin, stands as a testament to the carrier's prominent presence amid this subscriber surge.
LG Uplus, the country's third-largest mobile operator, also experienced notable growth, attracting 183,000 users from competitors in January, a 102.3 percent rise from the prior month. This included 80,000 users switching from KT, underscoring the ripple effects of KT's policy change.
KT Corp., meanwhile, managed to bolster its own MNP inflow by 53.2 percent month-on-month, reaching 121,000 users in January, though it continued to lose far more subscribers to its rivals during the period.
The shifts were triggered by KT's waiver of early termination fees, a direct response to a significant data breach that eroded customer trust and prompted widespread porting activity to competitors like SK Telecom and LG Uplus.
