SKT slapped with suspension during September

By Bahk Eun-ji

The Korea Communications Commission says it has decided to impose a seven-day suspension on SK Telecom in September for providing illegal subsidies to lure new subscribers.

The nation’s telecom watchdog made the decision and imposed a 23.5 billion won fine on SKT in March because the carrier paid an average 228,000 won in excess of the legal ceiling for subsidies in January.

SKT was supposed to receive the suspension last month, but it was delayed due to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak.

The Mobile Distribution Act, which took effect last October, sets the legal limit at 300,000 won for subsidies.

Some SKT retail stores even concealed or deleted the related data after the telecom watchdog started its inspection, the KCC said.

The KCC official said the suspension will start before the Chuseok, Korean Thanksgiving, holiday period. The exact date will be decided after consultation.