'KT Micro-payment Chief Culprit' - Fake Base Station Equipment from China... Import Statistics Non-existent

Over 100 types openly sold on Chinese online malls... Domestic inflow status is "pitch black"

Jeong Il-young: "We must enhance the customs clearance system and prepare preemptive countermeasures."

Press Conference Urging Resolution of Mobile Carrier Hacking Incident (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Shin Hyun-woo = On the 15th, officials from civic groups such as the Citizens' Research Institute for Economic Justice, Seoul YMCA Citizens' Broadcasting Office, People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy's Economic Justice Division, and the Korea Consumer Federation, stood in front of the KT Gwanghwamun Building West Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, condemning the irresponsible behavior of mobile carriers and the government regarding SKT SIM hacking and KT micro-payment damages. 2025.9.15 nowwego@yna.co.kr

It has been pointed out that "fake base station" equipment, which was misused in the KT unauthorized micro-payment incident, is being indiscriminately distributed in Korea.

According to data submitted by Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Il-young from the Korea Customs Service on the 3rd, the "Subscriber Identity Number (IMSI) Collector (Catcher)," which was used in the recent KT unauthorized micro-payment incident, is currently classified and managed as a simple wireless communication device without a separate item number.

An IMSI catcher functions as a small, fake base station and is equipment that can steal the identification code embedded in a user's SIM card.

While some countries allow law enforcement agencies to use it with court permission, it is considered a primary tool misused for crimes such as unauthorized payments, smishing, and personal information theft in the private sector.

The problem is that IMSI catchers can be easily obtained from overseas direct purchase sites. Searching for 'IMSI catcher' on some Chinese online malls reveals over 100 types of products, all of which are available for domestic shipping.

According to customs statistics, the import volume of Chinese wireless communication devices from 2020 to 2024 totaled 32.6 trillion won, accounting for 38% of the total import value. However, at the customs clearance stage, IMSI catchers do not have a separate item number, making identification and management virtually impossible.

Rep. Jeong emphasized, "Equipment that can be misused for criminal activities, such as IMSI catchers, must be thoroughly vetted from the customs clearance stage, and management and regulations must be strengthened to distinguish between legal use and illegal misuse," adding, "The Korea Customs Service must enhance its customs clearance system and meticulously investigate the status of imported equipment from overseas to prepare preemptive countermeasures." Yonhap News