Mastermind Behind Hacking Organization Targeting BTS Jungkook and Tycoons Arrested: "Risk of Evidence Destruction and Flight"

Mastermind Behind 38 Billion Won Theft Arrested
Used Victims' Names to Open Accounts and Steal Assets
Targets Included BTS Member Jungkook and Top Business Leaders

The mastermind of a hacking organization accused of siphoning off assets from domestic tycoons, including Jungkook of the group BTS and major conglomerate chairmen, was arrested on the 24th.

On this day, Judge Cho Youngmin of the Seoul Central District Court issued a warrant after conducting a pre-trial detention hearing for Jeon, a 34-year-old Chinese national, stating, "There are concerns about destruction of evidence and flight risk."

A, a Chinese national and the mastermind of a hacking organization accused of stealing assets from domestic tycoons including Jungkook of the group BTS, is attending a pre-trial detention hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 24th. Photo by Yonhap News

Jeon is suspected of hacking the web pages of domestic mobile carriers and others from August 2023 to January this year, illegally collecting personal information and stealing assets. He faces charges including violations of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes.

Police believe Jeon illicitly opened budget phone accounts under the victims' names to access and transfer funds from financial and virtual asset accounts, embezzling more than 38 billion won. The main targets reportedly included BTS member Jungkook, who is serving in the military, as well as businesspeople who were incarcerated at the time. Executives from domestic virtual asset and venture companies, as well as heads of top 30 conglomerates, were also among the victims.

The police and Ministry of Justice received intelligence in April that Jeon had entered Thailand, apprehended him locally, and forcibly extradited him to Incheon Airport on the 22nd. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Cyber Investigation Unit, which is in charge of the case, plans to investigate Jeon for additional crimes while he remains in custody.

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