Research has shown that Internet phones are exposed to eavesdropping. Even ordinary citizens can wiretap Internet phones via a notebook linked to wireless local area network (LAN).

The finding means that eavesdropping is possible for 10 million South Korean households. Yet it is illegal to wiretap the phone. Communication privacy is guaranteed in the Constitution.

In the past, intelligence agencies were the target of criticism for wiretapping people and organizations. Now ordinary citizens are capable of eavesdropping on any subscriber of the cheap phone service.

The government should take measures to mandate the operators to install anti-wiretapping devices on Internet phones. It may be costly to install the device immediately. The government must give the operators incentives so that they can insulate Internet phones from wiretapping.

Unless operators set in motion anti-wiretapping features, consumers will no longer use fixed line phones.