[GLOBAL ECONOMIC TIMES]  Illegal spam text messages, which were known to have increased rapidly after some text resellers in charge of sending mass text messages were hacked, turned out to be due to collusion between text resellers and illegal spammers.

According to the 'data explaining the causes and countermeasures of illegal spam' received from the Korea Communications Commission on the 24th by the office of People Power Party lawmaker Kim Jang-gyeom, the Korea Communications Commission saw a surge in reports of illegal spam that causes damage to the national economy, including stock reading rooms, in the first half of this year, and mass text messages were sent as the main sender. An emergency inspection of services was conducted from June 20 to July 31.

Previously, the Korea Internet & Security Agency estimated hacking of text resellers as the reason for the rapid increase in text spam reports since June, which began to increase in March of this year. The number of illegal spam reports counted in June of this year was 47.47 million, a 26% increase compared to the previous month in May (37.58 million).

However, as a result of the Korea Communications Commission's inspection, it was found that spam increased rapidly due to collusion between illegal spammers and some text resellers rather than hacking of text resellers.

The Korea Communications Commission said, “The deviant behavior of ineligible business operators continues, with more than half of reports of illegal spam from specific text messaging agencies.”

The proportion of spam reports by text resellers, which accounted for 49% of the total at 6,693,790 in 2022, rapidly increased to 86.19% (126,853,476) in 2023. In the case of one text reseller, the proportion of spam texts increased by nearly 40 percentage points from 14.99% (2.04 million) in 2022 to 54.33% (79.95 million) in 2023.

Rep. Kim's office and the Korea Communications Commission interpreted that certain text resellers were sympathizing with illegal spammers. The Korea Communications Commission said, "It is true that illegal spam was sent due to hacking of text resellers, but it was not the direct cause of the increase in spam. For the purpose of profit, illegal spammers and text resellers have colluded to send illegal spam," Rep. Kim's office said. 

The Korea Communications Commission pointed out that the punishment is weak compared to the profits earned by businesses from spam. The Korea Communications Commission said, “Illegal spammers and mass text messaging service providers make enormous illegal profits through spam crimes, while the current fines are insufficient,” adding, “With the current penalty system, we expect a substantial decrease in illegal spammers and text messaging service providers who sympathize with illegal spam.” “It’s difficult,” he said. The 'Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc.' stipulates punishment for transmitting illegal spam as imprisonment for up to 3 years or a fine of up to 30 million won.

As a future measure, the Korea Communications Commission plans to introduce a fine system to recover illegal profits from illegal spammers and text messaging service providers. This is because stronger economic sanctions are not necessary at the level of fines.

In addition, they announced that they would improve the identity verification system for those who send bulk text messages, work with mobile carriers to review measures to limit text transmission speeds for text messaging agencies that have received a large number of spam reports, promote the legislation of the bulk text message sending qualification certification system, and introduce rapid authentication.

Rep. Kim Jang-gyeom said, “Illegal spam leads to investment fraud and smishing crimes, creating a large number of victims, and obscene text messages are having a negative impact on youth.” pointed out. He emphasized, "The Korea Communications Commission must use this opportunity to refine measures and make every effort to implement them with the determination to eradicate the illegal spam problem."

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