Police Launch Investigation into Celebrity Smartphone Hacking and Blackmail Case

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] The police have received reports from celebrities who have been threatened to pay money after their smartphones were hacked, and have launched an investigation.

The Cyber Safety Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 8th that it is investigating cases of smartphone hacking and threats involving some celebrities.

The victims who reported hacking damage are said to include famous actors, idol singers, and chefs. The hacker accessed photos, videos, and text messages stored on the smartphones and threatened to distribute them if the money was not paid.

The smartphones used by the victims were of the same brand, and it is believed that the cloud system of this manufacturer, which separately stores data contained in the smartphones, may have been hacked.

The hacker demanded as much as 1 billion KRW or more, and some celebrities reportedly actually handed over money. One actor who did not comply with the threats had text messages exchanged with a fellow actor exposed.

A police official said, "It is difficult to disclose specific details in order to protect the privacy of the victims and prevent further damage."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.