Although we experienced hacking, the combined performance of the three mobile telecommunication companies is on the rise.
Yonhap Infomax compiled the performance forecasts of securities companies that have released reports over the past month, and the sales and operating profit of the three companies, SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus, were estimated to be KRW 60.9148 trillion last year and KRW 4.383 trillion.
Compared to the year before last, sales and operating profit increased by 3.25% and 25.4%.
SK Telecom is estimated to see a 4.39% decrease in revenue and 42.04% decrease in operating profit in 2025.
KT, on the other hand, is expected to see a 6.86 percent increase in sales and 199.53 percent increase in operating profit.
LG U+ is estimated to increase sales by 6.11% and operating profit by 4.46%.
The sluggish performance of SK Telecom is interpreted as a result of reflecting the aftermath of last year's massive hacking.
After hacking and personal information leaks revealed in April, subscriber churn increased as a penalty exemption was implemented in July, and mobile phone sales plunged in August due to a 50% reduction in telecommunications fees and various compensation programs.
KT's sales surpassed KRW 1 trillion for the first time in the second quarter of last year, reflecting the growth of core businesses such as telecommunications and artificial intelligence conversion (AX), as well as the one-time real estate sales profit from the development of the Gangbuk headquarters site.
Since the hacking incident, LG U+ has expanded its subscriber base by absorbing subscribers who have left their competitors relatively stably, and new business sectors such as B2B and data centers have also contributed to improved performance.
However, it is predicted that the fourth quarter's performance will be below market expectations for all three mobile telecommunication companies.
SK Telecom is expected to reflect about 250 billion won in one-time expenses related to voluntary retirement (separate 150 billion won and SK Broadband 100 billion won).
KT is expected to act as a performance burden as the cost of replacing USIMs due to hacking accidents, retroactive application of penalty compensation, and some of the cost of customer repayment programs are reflected.
LG U+ is also expected to reflect one-time costs, including 60 to 70 billion won worth of incentives due to annual performance improvement.
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Yonhap News TV Article Statement and Report: Kakaotalk/Linejebo23
Choi Deok-jae [email protected]
"All three companies have suffered hacking damage.
But in the end, we’re back to square one.
The market should not be shaped in this way.
At the very least, we need to find a way to exclude the three major carriers from the budget phone market."
