South Korean police dismantle AI-driven cybercrime ring that stole 8 million records

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced the breakup of a cybercrime ring that leveraged AI-based hacking methods to infiltrate at least 60 of the 90 targeted organizations. Over the course of the investigation, the seven alleged members extracted approximately 8.2 million records containing personal data and internal documents from hospitals, private academies and various businesses. The group is accused of extorting the victims, demanding a combined sum of 360 million won.

Police identified the leader, a 32-year-old self-taught hacker who previously worked at a security firm conducting mock attacks, and sent him to prosecution while he remains in physical detention. The other six suspects are still being interrogated. This case follows recent alerts about AI-enabled cyber attacks on South Korean financial institutions.