LG Uplus Releases AI Service Convergence Subscription Service ‘Pick AI’

LG Uplus CISO and CPO Hong Kwan-hee explains security-first strategies at a meeting on security strategies at LG Uplus office building in Yongsan, Seoul, on July 29. (Photo: LG Uplus)

LG Uplus has unveiled “U-Dok Pick AI,” combining a variety of AI subscription options.

The telecom service provider said customers can select one of the three conversation search AIs and one of the specialized service options, such as design, learning and editing for a monthly fee of 19,800 won.

The conversation search AIs are Liner, Pelo and Excellent AI, combining 20 kinds of LLM options, including Chat GPT, Jemini and Claude.

The seven specialized service options include the content design service “Canva,” the video editing service “KineMaster,” the English conservation service “Plang,” the self-introduction letter and interview coaching service “Comento,” the Korean learning service “Learney,” and the science learning service “Donga Science AiR.”

Canva, with more than 100 million global users, is the most well-known service. Its subscription fee is 9,900 won per month.

But when customers select Pelo and Excellent AI, they cannot use Canva.

The Liner-Canva fixed product has also been released.

It can be subscribed at a monthly price of 11,900 won during the promotion period, which lasts until the end of September.

Customers purchasing Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 can use the Liner-Canva fixed product free of charge for six months. Only 10,000 customers can benefit from the promotion on a first-come, first-served basis.

Lee Hyun-seung, managing director in charge of subscription and omni-platform at LG Uplus, said, “Even though the need for AI services in diverse areas is on the rise, customers tend to hesitate due to the burdensome subscription of several services and related high costs, and the Pick AI will lead to efforts to make domestic AI services part of daily lives.”

LG Uplus Unveils Security-Oriented Strategies to Prevent Voice Phishing

LG Uplus unveiled security strategies to prevent voice phishing and smishing, and its vision of becoming a telecom service provider dedicated to preventing those scams.

In a meeting on security strategies at LG Uplus office building in Yongsan, Seoul, on July 29, LG Uplus Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Chief Privacy Officer (CPO) Hong Kwan-hee, said, “LG Uplus has realized the significance of security faster than any other company in Korea and systematically raised security levels according to plans, and will move toward a telecom service provider, realizing water-tight security through strategic investments in the future and offer security that customers can feel.”

During the meeting, LG Uplus demonstrated its security capabilities, such as a process in which smartphones can be controlled by malicious apps.

LG Uplus is the sole telecom service provider which analyzes malicious app servers being operated by voice phishing and smishing organizations.

Furthermore, LG Uplus proposed forming a government private sector joint information security consultation body, saying that such joint efforts to eradicate damage caused by voice phishing and smishing are badly needed.

In July 2023, LG Uplus inaugurated the Information Security Center, a department under the direct control of the CEO.

The telecom service provider has so far strengthened security regimes prioritizing security governance, security prevention and security response.

Security governance is in a final stage with the in-house security body Information Security Center playing a pivotal role.

The center oversees companywide information protection from an independent location, and Hong, head of the center, a management committee member, participates in companywide decision making , including security.

The telecom service provider is continuously expanding investments and manpower to fully perform its security control tower’s roles.

LG Uplus invested some 82.8 billion won in the information security sector in 2024, according to a public notice released by the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA).

The figure represented a more than 30 percent rise from the previous year.

The telecom service provider is expected to invest some 700 billion won in the next five years.

LG Uplus saw information security manpower surge to 292.9 people in 2024, an 86 percent jump from 157.5 persons in 2023.

The second axis involves security prevention, a step designed to counter cyber threats, such as hacking.

On top of a self-inspection of inside systems, the telecom service provider has been conducting black box mock hacking since last November.

It tests all services designed to explore loopholes in a task commissioned to outside white hacker groups. Outside experts confirmed its stringent security.

LG Uplus plans to continue exploring loopholes.

LG Uplus CISO Hong Kwan-hee said, “It is a process of exploring danger factors by mobilizing all means for the longest-ever period in an unprecedented manner, and we aim to minimize outside penetration and make consumers use our services at ease.”

The third axis involves efforts to continuously ramp up AI-based control systems to upgrade security responses. In particular, LG U-plus is building up the “Zero Trust,” as characterized by the telecom service provider.