BTS member Jungkook was reportedly one of the targets of an international hacking group that stole personal and financial information from celebrities and wealthy individuals.
On May 21, the Cyber Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced that it had arrested an international hacking group accused of stealing financial and personal information through SIM card cloning and illegal mobile phone registrations.
According to police, the group hacked government, public institution, and private websites from May 2022 to April last year to collect personal and financial information.
They then allegedly cloned victims’ SIM cards or opened illegal budget phone accounts under their names. Police said the group used the stolen authentication information to access bank accounts and virtual asset accounts.
The group reportedly targeted people who would have difficulty responding quickly, including those staying overseas, serving in the military, or in prison. Victims reportedly included Jungkook, 12 entertainers and influencers, as well as major company owners and executives.
Jungkook was reportedly included among the targets, but his agency noticed suspicious activity and responded right away. Because of this, no financial loss reportedly occurred.
Police said the personal and financial information of 271 people was leaked in the case. Among them, 28 people either suffered actual financial damage or nearly suffered damage.
The total damage amount was estimated at around 73.4 billion KRW, including 25 billion KRW in attempted damage. The actual stolen amount was reported to be around 48.4 billion KRW.
After a four year investigation, police arrested the group’s leaders in Thailand and brought them back to Korea. Police also recovered around 21.3 billion KRW in stolen funds through cooperation with financial institutions.
Authorities plan to send 32 members of the group, including two Chinese leaders, to prosecutors on charges including violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes.
