Conglomerate Chairmen and Celebrities Victimized... Leader of Crime Ring That Stole 38 Billion Won Extradited

Prominent Business Leaders and Celebrities Targeted
Extradited After Joint Pursuit with Thai Authorities

The leader of a hacking crime organization that stole 38 billion won from accounts belonging to conglomerate chairmen and famous celebrities has been apprehended in Thailand and extradited to South Korea. A, a 34-year-old Chinese national, established a hacking organization overseas, including in Thailand, and siphoned off deposits and virtual assets from the accounts of prominent figures in society.

The Ministry of Justice announced that A, who hacked numerous websites and embezzled the assets of wealthy individuals and other prominent figures, was extradited from Bangkok, Thailand to Incheon Airport at approximately 5:05 a.m. on August 22.

From around August 2023 to January of last year, A hacked the websites of telecommunications companies and used illegally obtained personal information to open mobile phone accounts under the victims' names. Subsequently, A transferred deposits and other assets without authorization from the victims' financial accounts and virtual asset accounts. Confirmed victims include famous celebrities, conglomerate chairmen, and venture company CEOs.

The Ministry of Justice, in cooperation with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and Interpol, tracked the whereabouts of the criminal. In April of this year, they received intelligence that the suspect had entered Thailand. After urgently requesting provisional arrest for extradition from the Thai authorities and maintaining communication, they secured custody of the criminal within two weeks.