BTS’ Jungkook victim of 8.4 Billion won stock hacking scam, mastermind arrested: Report

BTS’ Jungkook victim of 8.4 Billion won stock hacking scam mastermind arrested: Report

BTS’ Jungkook has been revealed as one of the victims in a massive hacking scandal that shook South Korea’s financial sector. Authorities confirmed that the ringleader of the cybercrime group, a 34-year-old Chinese national identified as Mr. A, has been arrested and extradited from Thailand to face prosecution.

According to South Korea’s Ministry of Justice, the group orchestrated a sophisticated hacking scheme between August 2023 and January 2024, infiltrating mobile carrier websites to steal personal data from prominent individuals. Using this information, they created fraudulent mobile phone accounts under victims’ names and siphoned money and assets from securities and virtual currency accounts. Reports state the group managed to steal around 38 billion won in total.

Among the high-profile victims was global superstar Jungkook of BTS. In January 2024, shortly after enlisting for mandatory military service, hackers targeted his securities account and stole 33,500 shares of HYBE stock, worth approximately 8.4 billion won. This shocking breach made headlines as it underscored the vulnerabilities even world-famous celebrities face in the digital age.

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Jungkook and his agency, Big Hit Music, later pursued legal action after discovering that 500 of the stolen shares had been sold to a third party in March 2024. The court ruled in Jungkook’s favor, declaring the transaction invalid since it was based on stolen identity and ordering the full return of the shares. This ensured that Jungkook’s ownership was restored despite the elaborate hacking scheme.

The case has raised serious concerns about cybersecurity in South Korea, where hackers increasingly target high-profile individuals, corporations, and celebrities. Authorities have pledged to tighten security protocols and pursue international cooperation to curb such crimes. Jungkook’s involvement has brought heightened public attention to the dangers of digital fraud and identity theft.