Chinese Hacker Sentenced for Stealing $27.2 Million from BTS Member and Executives

A Seoul court sentenced a Chinese national, surnamed Chun, to 20 years in prison for leading a hacking scheme that targeted K-pop star Jung Kook and other wealthy individuals. The group stole over 38 billion won ($27.2 million) by impersonating victims and transferring assets from their accounts. Chun's criminal activities spanned from August 2023 to January 2025, involving the collection of personal information and activation of mobile phones in victims' names. The court noted that the victims were not at fault, differentiating this case from typical voice phishing scams. Chun showed no remorse for his actions, which included an attempt to steal 8.4 billion won worth of shares from Jung Kook's agency, HYBE, but the agency acted swiftly to prevent losses.

Key Points: • A Chinese national was sentenced to 20 years for leading a hacking scheme targeting wealthy individuals. • The hacking operation stole over 38 billion won ($27.2 million) from victims, including BTS member Jung Kook. • The court highlighted the lack of victim fault, contrasting this case with common voice phishing scams.