South Korea records 280 million “nuisance calls” since the beginning of the year

News reports have highlighted an unprecedented volume of nuisance calls on mobile phones in South Korea during the first eight months of 2024.

Data from the Korea Internet and Security Agency, presented to the National Assembly, showed that 280.4 million nuisance calls and messages were detected between January and August of this year, marking a 68% increase compared to the same period last year, according to the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS).

The significant annual rise in nuisance calls on mobile phones has put telecommunications companies under heavy criticism. They face fines of up to 30 million won (around 22,600 dollars) for failing to take appropriate action after being made aware of the nuisance calls and messages on their networks.

These statistics, along with other concerns arising from the use of modern tools like mobile phones and social media platforms, and the resulting privacy violations, have sparked global concerns about their potentially dangerous negative impact on individuals and societies worldwide.