TVING Data Breach Compensation Requires Direct Application

TVING has started compensation for members affected by a personal-data breach, but many of the benefits will not arrive automatically. Eligible users must apply by Sept. 30, and former subscribers must rejoin the service before they can claim compensation.

The streaming company began accepting applications through its website and mobile app at 10 a.m. on Sept. 7. Applicants must log in, check their eligibility under the “MY” menu, verify their identity and choose their benefits. The points and coupons will be provided sequentially from Oct. 6.

The compensation package includes 50 TVING points, worth 5,000 won, for purchases such as new films. Users can also choose between a one-month WAVE advertising-supported video-on-demand pass and a 5,000-won discount coupon for one of three CGV combos. A one-year hacking and phishing insurance policy covers cyber financial fraud, online shopping fraud and person-to-person transaction fraud, up to 3 million won per person.

“

If compensation is modest and consumers who already feel negative because their information was leaked are also required to rejoin, their resentment can only grow.

A three-month upgrade to premium viewing applies without a separate application. TVING says it includes up to 4K picture quality, 400 downloads and simultaneous viewing on four devices, with a stated value of 17,000 won per month. Existing premium subscribers receive 50 TVING points instead.

The breach involved 39.54 million accounts, including active, inactive, former and test accounts. The figure does not represent the number of individual users because one person may have multiple accounts. Among 19.04 million accounts linked to resident-registration information, investigators counted 13.24 million unique users after removing duplicates. The exposed data included names, phone numbers, email addresses, birth dates, gender, identity information and payment histories.

Former subscribers remain eligible, but TVING requires them to create a free account again so it can verify their identity and compare existing information. They do not need to buy a paid pass to apply. Consumer studies professor emeritus Lee Eun-hee said that requiring people who already left the service to provide personal information again could increase their resentment. She argued that consumers who want to leave should be allowed to do so freely, while companies should encourage their return through better content.

“

Consumers who want to leave should be allowed to leave freely, and from the company’s perspective it would be more desirable to make them want to return through good content.