BTS’ Jungkook hacking case: Ringleader gets 20 years in prison, ‘No sincere remorse’
A Chinese national has been sentenced to 20 years behind bars for masterminding a cross-border hacking ring that drained tens of millions of dollars from wealthy South Koreans, including BTS star Jungkook. According to the Korea Herald, the Seoul Central District Court delivered the sentence Thursday, convicting the man, surnamed Chun, of fraud and information network violations linked to the…
A Chinese national, surnamed Chun, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for orchestrating a cross-border hacking ring that stole over $27.2 million from high-net-worth South Koreans, including BTS member Jungkook. The Seoul Central District Court handed down the verdict on Thursday following the conviction of Chun for fraud and information network violations.
The court emphasized that Chun meticulously targeted affluent individuals, draining their financial assets without any fault on their part. This marked a stark contrast to typical voice phishing cases. Judges also noted Chun's lack of genuine remorse as a significant factor in the sentencing decision.
Prosecutors revealed that Chun was part of an international criminal network that operated across borders, including in Thailand, between August 2023 and January 2025. The group's modus operandi involved stealing victims' personal data, using it to activate mobile phones under their names, and subsequently draining funds from their financial accounts.
Among those targeted by the operation were BTS's Jungkook and an executive from a major Korean conglomerate. In a separate incident, the hacking ring attempted to seize approximately 8.4 billion won worth of HYBE shares, belonging to Jungkook's company, BigHit Music. However, HYBE quickly intervened to thwart the attempted theft.
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