South Korea’s telecom authorities may fine KT Corp. up to 100 million won ($93,559) for a recent data leak, industry sources said Monday, a punishment some consumer groups argue is too weak.

An investigation found that a group of hackers was behind the data theft from KT, exposing personal information of some 9.81 million clients of the country’s second-largest mobile carrier.

A team of government officials and online security specialists have been looking into the case after the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency arrested three suspects on March 7 for allegedly breaking into the company’s website and stealing 12 million pieces of personal data over a year.

Despite the massive leakage, however, industry watchers said the government can only impose fines rather than business suspensions due to the country’s telecom law.

Local law states a telecom firm is subject to a business suspension only when it profits by using subscribers’ information. (Yonhap)