South Korea Arrests Seven in AI-Assisted Hacking Case

Seven individuals were arrested in Seoul for a hacking campaign that utilized generative AI to infiltrate approximately 90 organizations and steal 8.2 million records. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced this as the first large-scale AI-assisted hacking operation in South Korea. Targets included hospitals, universities, private cram schools, golf courses, and subsidiaries of major conglomerates, compromising personal information of ordinary citizens. One funeral service provider lost 1.22 million records, with reports indicating that data from educational institutions included information on minors. The alleged ringleader, a 32-year-old with no IT background, claimed to have self-taught hacking through online resources, although he had prior experience in simulated attacks at a security firm from 2019 to 2022. He began using website vulnerability scanners and later incorporated an AI coding agent and an autonomous penetration-testing system, enabling him to breach 60 companies within 44 days, from August 31 to October 13. Police noted that such an extensive attack previously required a hacking group, but AI technology now allows an individual to execute it swiftly. The campaign lasted about 13 months, from September 2025 to October 2026, and was initiated after a victim's complaint in June. The ringleader has been referred to prosecutors and faces charges under South Korea's information and communications network law, as well as extortion. Investigations into the six accomplices and additional victims are ongoing, with 15 organizations reporting damages.

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