BTS Jung-gook also nearly lost 8.4 billion won... Chinese mastermind of '38 billion won hacking' case extradited from Thailand

*This content was translated by AI.

The Chinese mastermind of an international hacking organization that stole personal information of wealthy individuals including BTS Jung-gook and chairmen of major corporations to siphon off assets worth around 38 billion won in stocks, coins, and other forms has been extradited.

According to NEWS1 on the 13th, the Ministry of Justice, together with the National Police Agency, extradited the Chinese mastermind A to Incheon International Airport from Bangkok, Thailand, on the morning of the same day. This follows the earlier extradition of accomplice B last August, who was already arrested and prosecuted.

They are suspected of organizing an international hacking criminal group in Thailand, illegally activating low-cost mobile phones using personal information of wealthy individuals obtained by hacking government, public, and private websites from August 2023 to April last year, then intruding into financial accounts and virtual asset exchange accounts to steal approximately 38 billion won from 16 victims.

It is reported that A and others meticulously carried out the crime by first extracting personal information such as resident registration numbers and financial and authentication information of 258 victims, then narrowing down the "first candidate group" based on asset levels, and finally designating a "final target list" of individuals who were difficult to immediately target due to reasons such as imprisonment in correctional facilities or military enlistment.

Among the victims were BTS Jung-gook, chairmen of major corporations, and legal professionals. However, although Jung-gook had HYBE shares worth 8.4 billion won stolen, his agency took measures such as payment suspension after becoming aware of the incident, so no actual loss occurred.

Previously, the Seoul National Police Agency's Cyber Investigation Division arrested two masterminds including B, who was extradited first last August, along with 16 domestic and foreign organization members. B was arrested and prosecuted in September of the following year and is currently facing trial.

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*This content was translated by AI.