South Korean President Orders Probe Into Financial Data Leaks

President Lee Jae Myung ordered a comprehensive investigation into personal data leaks affecting public agencies, finance companies, and banks. The order follows reports of cyberattacks targeting Woori Bank, Hana Bank, KB Kookmin Bank, and Shinhan Bank.

The Financial Services Commission convened an emergency meeting on October 4 to coordinate the response. FSC Chairman Lee Eog-weon stated that authorities are investigating whether artificial intelligence was used to execute the attacks. He advocated for a strategy of "AI attacks defended by AI" to counter the threat.

Regulators believe the attackers scanned multiple institutions for vulnerabilities rather than targeting a single entity. Traffic for the attacks originated from IP addresses in Britain, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, and the United States. While the FSC has launched on-site investigations and ordered security inspections, the opposition People Power Party has called for an inquiry into potential North Korean involvement.