International Hacking Ring Targets South Korea’s Elite, Including BTS’s Jungkook, in $28.1M SIM-Swap Fraud

South Korean authorities have dismantled an international hacking syndicate accused of stealing nearly 39 billion won ($28.1 million) from high-profile individuals, including BTS member Jungkook. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Cyber Investigation Unit arrested 16 suspects, with three held in custody for hacking, fraud, and violations of the Information and Communications Network Act.

The perpetrators infiltrated six poorly secured websites tied to government agencies, IT platforms, and financial institutions, extracting personal data from 258 victims. Among those targeted were 75 businesspeople, 11 lawyers and officials, 12 celebrities, six athletes, and 28 VIRTUAL asset investors—some holding accounts with balances exceeding 12 trillion won.

This marks South Korea's largest recorded SIM-swap fraud, underscoring vulnerabilities in digital security frameworks. The breach highlights systemic risks for high-net-worth individuals and crypto investors, particularly as cybercriminals increasingly exploit weak points in institutional infrastructure.