South Korean police referred a 32-year-old suspected ringleader to prosecutors in custody after a group allegedly stole 8.2 million pieces of personal data and other internal records from more than 90 entities, Yonhap reported, citing the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. The targets included hospitals, private academies and businesses. Police said the group allegedly used AI tools to hack 60 targets and sought a combined 360 million won from 38 businesses. The other six suspects were facing further questioning. The case concerns alleged data theft and extortion; the reported referral is not a conviction.

Why it matters

  • The alleged campaign affected organizations holding personal data and internal business records.
  • The police account links AI tools to alleged hacking across dozens of targets.