Lee calls for thorough probe into personal data leaks at financial institutions

President Lee Jae Myung has called for a thorough investigation into recent hacking attacks that led to personal information leaks at major banks and financial institutions in South Korea, according to a press release by his spokesperson. Several banks, including Hana Bank, KB Kookmin Bank, and Shinhan Bank, experienced back-to-back leaks of customer data in these cyberattacks.

President Lee was briefed on the incidents and the measures taken in response, and he emphasized the importance of a comprehensive investigation and the allocation of all necessary resources to address the issue.

On Thursday, Shinhan Bank disclosed that personal information of approximately 25,000 customers, including their names, phone numbers, and annual income, had been compromised. The bank reported that hackers utilized advanced artificial intelligence tools to carry out the attack. According to sources, 89 customers' personal information was leaked, while the bank's security systems successfully prevented unauthorized access to the data of 89 other customers.

Financial Services Commission Chairman Lee Eog-weon and Financial Supervisory Service Governor Lee Chan-jin are set to convene an emergency meeting later in the day to discuss the matter with the heads of the affected financial institutions.