Sentencing
A Seoul court on Thursday sentenced a Chinese national to 20 years in prison for leading a hacking scheme that targeted BTS member Jungkook and South Korean business executives. The Seoul Central District Court handed down the sentence to the man, identified by his surname Chun, on charges of fraud and violating South Korea's Information Network Act.
The court said the scheme stole more than 38 billion won ($27.2 million) from victims. "(Chun) targeted wealthy individuals and stole their assets," the court said. "The victims lost their assets despite bearing no fault, unlike in voice phishing scams." The court added that Chun has not shown genuine remorse for his wrongdoing.
The case has gained widespread attention across social media and among K-pop fans, as reported by BOL News.
The hacking scheme
Chun was charged with collecting personal information as part of a criminal ring operating overseas, including in Thailand, from August 2023 to January 2025. Investigators said the group collected personal information, activated mobile phones in victims' names, and used those accounts to gain access to financial assets.
The investigation showed the targets included Jungkook and a business tycoon of a major conglomerate.
The hacking group attempted to steal 8.4 billion won worth of Jungkook's shares in HYBE, the parent company of his agency, BigHit Music. Sources said the agency took immediate action to prevent losses. BOL News reported that the attempted theft occurred after Jungkook began his mandatory military service in December 2023, and did not result in a permanent financial loss for the singer. BigHit Music acted quickly after suspicious activity was discovered, taking steps to suspend the transaction and restore the value of the shares.
The court described the crime as particularly serious because victims were financially harmed despite doing nothing wrong, according to BOL News.