SK Telecom Helps Credit Recovery for Inmates in Ministry of Justice Correctional Facilities

Ministry of Justice and Seoul Guarantee Insurance Operate 'Credit Recovery Support Program'

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgi Na Jo] SK Telecom announced that it will operate a nationwide ‘Credit Recovery Support Program’ for inmates in correctional facilities in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice and Seoul Guarantee Insurance starting from the 20th.

SK Telecom will be the first domestic telecom company to establish a dedicated counseling channel for inmates, an installment payment plan for overdue mobile device payments, and a system for managing unpaid bills and advance payment of fees to resolve difficulties such as credit delinquency registration due to overdue installment payments for mobile devices caused by incarceration in national correctional facilities, and involuntary termination due to unpaid telecom fees.

Accordingly, correctional institutions under the Ministry of Justice will guide inmates on how to pay overdue device installments and the procedure for applying for long-term suspension. If an inmate submits the required documents, expresses the intention to pay the overdue device installments, and repays a certain amount, they can be exempted from credit delinquency registration after screening by Seoul Guarantee Insurance. Additionally, by applying for long-term suspension, inmates can retain their existing mobile phone numbers.

SK Telecom has prepared a dedicated counseling channel capable of handling fee payments, overdue device installment management, and long-term suspension applications, and operates a direct channel exclusively for inmates to provide customized counseling services. With the implementation of this support program, it is expected that inmates in correctional facilities will be able to recover their credit, reducing inconveniences such as employment and financial transactions after release, and helping maintain social relationships by keeping their original phone numbers. SK Telecom plans to expand the program in consultation with the Ministry of Justice based on evaluations of the program’s operation.

Lee Ki-yoon, Head of Customer Value Innovation at SK Telecom, said, “We hope that the implementation of the Credit Recovery Support Program will serve as an opportunity for inmates in correctional facilities to return to society stably,” and added, “SK Telecom, which has led mobile communication services such as 5G, will continue to strive to realize social value through various activities that contribute to the happiness of members of society.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.