The Wi-Fi networks, however, come in handy not only for ordinary consumers, but also for firms like Apple and Google that are collecting “anonymous” user information since the process is free of charge.

“The most important aspect of Wi-Fi zones is that it could be used by anyone because it is an open network that uses a specific frequency range,” said an official at the Korea Communications Commission, a state telecom regulating body.

“Because of such characteristics, we have not set a limit up to now as to how it could be used or how it should be established.”

Although wireless networks are known to benefit many people, the time has come to draft a set of network management measures, which is a field that has been left vulnerable, according to industry sources.

They also supported their statement by pointing to a recent study which showed that it has become possible to steal private information of smartphone users by creating a fake wireless Internet network that has the same name as the public Wi-Fi network.

“I personally think Korea’s lagging behind in dealing with Internet security issues, especially in the Wi-Fi area,” said an industry insider. “The government keeps enforcing ID logins, but I believe secured packet transfers, like the U.S.’ encryption efforts, on personal information such as logins and account numbers should be considered.”

By Cho Ji-hyun (sharon@heraldcorp.com)