Key facts
- A Chinese national, surnamed Chun, received a 20-year prison sentence in Seoul.
- The sentence is for fraud and violating information network laws.
- The scheme targeted K-pop star Jungkook and South Korean business executives.
- Over 38 billion won (US$27.2 million) was stolen from victims.
- The hacking group attempted to steal 8.4 billion won in Jungkook's HYBE shares.
A Seoul court has sentenced a Chinese national to 20 years in prison for orchestrating a hacking scheme that targeted K-pop group BTS member Jungkook and South Korean business executives. The court found the individual, surnamed Chun, guilty of fraud and violating information network laws, leading to the theft of over 38 billion won (US$27.2 million) from victims.
The court stated that Chun targeted wealthy individuals and stole their assets, noting that the victims suffered losses through no fault of their own, distinguishing the case from typical voice phishing scams. Chun has also been found to lack genuine remorse for his actions.
The criminal ring, which operated from August 2023 to January 2025, with activities in Thailand, focused on collecting personal information. The scheme involved activating mobile phones in the victims' names and subsequently transferring assets from their accounts. Among the targets were Jungkook and a business tycoon from a major conglomerate. The hacking group had specifically attempted to steal 8.4 billion won worth of Jungkook's shares in HYBE, the parent company of his agency, BigHit Music, though the agency intervened to prevent the loss.