South Korea Guarantees Free 400 Kbps Mobile Data for All Citizens

South Korea has rolled out a universal basic mobile data program giving over seven million subscribers unlimited 400 Kbps downloads once their paid data caps are exhausted. The nation’s three major carriers - SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus - agreed to the scheme, which also includes low-cost 5G plans under $13.50/month, expanded allowances for seniors, and upgraded Wi-Fi on public transit.

The initiative is as much about accountability as access. Deputy PM Bae Kyunghoon framed it as a necessary response to a string of serious security failures across all three telcos - including a massive data leak at SK Telecom, a 3TB dark web exposure tied to LG Uplus, and KT’s compromised femtocell infrastructure that may have pushed malware to customers. The carriers are effectively buying back public trust with guaranteed connectivity.

In exchange for compliance, the government offered support for AI-focused network research, while pushing the telcos to invest in infrastructure beyond datacenters to ensure broad access to emerging AI services.