2 days Ago By Korea Bizwire
SK Telecom, which had suffered the theft of its subscribers’ USIM information, launched a free USIM replacement service. In a store located in Seoul, a notice was posted stating that USIM stock had run out. (Image courtesy of Yonhap) SEOUL, April 29, (Korea Bizwire) — The fallout from a major hacking incident at SK Telecom is set to trigger a significant environmental cost, with greenhouse gas emissions from mass SIM card replacements projected to reach thousands of tons, according to industry estimates released Monday.
Approximately 23 million SK Telecom subscribers and an additional 1.87 million users of budget mobile services operating on its network must replace their SIM (USIM) cards following the breach. The scale of the operation has alarmed environmental experts, who warn of substantial carbon emissions resulting from the process.
A 2022 study by Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration, commissioned by security firm G+D, estimated that producing, transporting, using, and disposing of a single SIM card emits approximately 229 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent. Based on this figure, the SIM replacement effort linked to SK Telecom could generate an estimated 5,695 tons of greenhouse gases. Despite their small size — roughly that of a thumbnail — SIM cards are typically embedded in credit-card-sized or half-sized plastic holders for distribution, leading to considerable plastic waste.
The full lifecycle of plastic, from production to disposal, further contributes to carbon emissions. To offset the emissions expected from the SIM swap, around 189,000 oak trees, known for their high carbon absorption rates, would need to be planted, according to data from South Korea’s National Park Service. The estimated 5,695 tons of emissions are equivalent to the annual carbon output of roughly 406 South Korean citizens.
The incident raises fresh questions about SK Telecom’s carbon neutrality pledge, which aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. However, the company’s total greenhouse gas emissions — including indirect emissions — rose from 1.04 million tons in 2020 to 1.
15 million tons in 2023. Like other telecom operators, SK Telecom generates the bulk of its emissions through indirect sources (Scope 2), such as the massive electricity consumption required to operate telecommunications networks. In 2023, the company’s direct emissions (Scope 1) stood at a relatively modest 6,063 tons — meaning the emissions from the upcoming SIM replacements will nearly match SK Telecom’s direct carbon footprint for the year.
The hacking incident, and its unintended environmental consequences, now add another layer of complexity to SK Telecom’s sustainability efforts as it navigates its recovery. Ashley Song ( [email protected] ).
