Chinese hacker who broke into stock account of BTS's Jungkook gets 20 years

The Seoul Central District Court sentenced Chun, a Chinese hacker, to 20 years for fraud and violating South Korea's Information and Communications Network Act. The court deemed the case serious enough to undermine the country's financial system and noted that Chun showed little remorse, despite arguing that another man was the chief conspirator, without providing verifiable evidence.

Chun led the hacking operation from overseas, primarily in Thailand, gathering personal data from August 2023 to January 2025. By activating budget carrier mobile lines in victims' names, the hackers passed identity verification and drained bank and cryptocurrency accounts. By the time blocked transfers were considered, the total amounted to approximately 64 billion won ($46 million).

Notable victims included a head of one of South Korea's largest business groups, BTS member Jungkook, and other entertainment figures. Jungkook's HYBE shares were targeted, with about 8.4 billion won ($6 million) in attempts. The hackers screened for individuals who would quickly notice withdrawal alerts and worked through targets such as company chairmen in correctional facilities, executives abroad, entertainers and athletes on military duty.

The ultimate goal was a single target holding about 12 trillion won ($8.6 billion). Seoul police announced the takedown in August 2025, arresting 18 individuals, including two Chinese men identified as the ring leaders. The group had been hacking government agencies, banks, and telecom carriers for years to build a database of stolen identities, affecting 258 victims, including 12 entertainers and influencers, 11 lawyers and civil servants, and six athletes.

Chun was captured in Bangkok in May 2025 in a joint operation by Thai police and Interpol, extradited to Incheon on August 22, 2025, and indicted on September 16, 2025.