The government said it is pursuing automatic remote updates along with USIM replacements after concerns were raised that LG Uplus' International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) directly includes subscriber phone numbers, posing a risk of personal data exposure.

People Power Party lawmaker Cho Kyung-tae (조경태) on Monday called IMSI "a kind of resident registration number for telecommunications" and took issue with LGU+'s method of generating IMSI at a parliamentary audit of the Ministry of Science and ICT by the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee.

Cho said SK Telecom uses random numbers and KT uses USIM manufacturer serial numbers, while LGU+ directly embeds subscriber phone numbers in IMSI. He said if nearby devices capture IMSI, phone numbers could also be exposed.

Cho said LGU+ is replacing USIM cards in response, but the replacement rate is about 30 percent. He said users need to be more clearly informed of the risk that phone numbers could be collected without authorization due to IMSI exposure.

Vice Prime Minister Bae Kyung-hoon (배경훈), who is also science and ICT minister, said of the measures: "There are users who have not yet switched, so we plan to implement it in an automatic remote manner from Oct. 20."

Cho said if IMSI is combined with USIM and device identification information, there is also the possibility of secondary harm such as USIM cloning or device cloning, and urged the government to respond.

Bae replied: "If serious service disruptions or cases of breaches of key contractual obligations are found, we should review necessary measures."