CEOs of major banks grilled at Assembly audit over AI cyberattacks

The CEOs of five major commercial banks faced scrutiny at a National Assembly audit Monday over recent AI-assisted cyberattacks. KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori and NH NongHyup bank chiefs apologized or pledged stronger cybersecurity measures. The attacks affected 16 financial firms and exposed about 100,000 personal records as regulators investigated vulnerabilities in internal support systems.

Shinhan Bank reported a data breach affecting about 25,000 people, while KB Kookmin Bank and Hana Bank reported leaks affecting 119 and 89 customers, respectively.

As of Oct. 14, the affected financial firms included banks, savings banks and insurers that had reported cybersecurity incidents exposing about 100,000 personal records.

Hana Bank CEO Lee Ho-seoung said the lender would increase its cybersecurity budget and workforce, adopt AI-based security systems and fully compensate customers for any losses resulting from the incident.

Woori Bank CEO Jung Jin-wan said the bank faced around 200 hacking attempts a day and had not reported customer data breaches linked to the recent incidents.

FSS Gov. Lee Chan-jin said regulators would investigate the breaches and consult with the Financial Services Commission on measures to encourage greater investment in security and personnel.

Published Oct 19, 2026 4:29 pm KST

Updated Oct 19, 2026 4:40 pm KST

FSS governor vows thorough probe into data breaches

From left, KB Kookmin Bank CEO Lee Hwan-ju, Shinhan Bank CEO Jung Sang-hyuk, Hana Bank CEO Lee Ho-seoung, Woori Bank CEO Jung Jin-wan and NH NongHyup Bank CEO Kang Tae-young attend an audit at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

The heads of five major commercial banks faced scrutiny at a National Assembly audit Monday over a series of recent artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted cyberattacks, with lawmakers raising concerns about cybersecurity and internal controls.

KB Kookmin Bank CEO Lee Hwan-ju, Shinhan Bank CEO Jung Sang-hyuk, Hana Bank CEO Lee Ho-seoung, Woori Bank CEO Jung Jin-wan and NH NongHyup Bank CEO Kang Tae-young were summoned as witnesses to the parliamentary audit of the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS).

It was the first time since October 2022 that the heads of all five lenders had been called to testify at the same audit.

"I sincerely apologize to our customers and the public for the concern caused by a security incident at a financial institution built on trust," KB Kookmin Bank CEO Lee Hwan-ju said. "We will make every effort to prevent a recurrence by securing sufficient budgets and personnel and strengthening our security systems against AI-powered cyberattacks."

"I deeply apologize for the incident," Shinhan Bank CEO Jung Sang-hyuk said in response to a question from Rep. Kim Jae-sub of the main opposition People Power Party about the data breaches.

Hana Bank CEO Lee Ho-seoung said the lender would "increase its cybersecurity budget and workforce and adopt AI-based security systems to prevent similar incidents."

Lee said the bank would compensate customers in full for any losses resulting from the incident, although no customer losses had been confirmed so far.

"We face around 200 hacking attempts a day, and our employees will do their utmost to prevent any damage," Woori Bank CEO Jung Jin-wan said, adding that the bank considered itself fortunate to have escaped harm in the recent wave of attacks.

The bank chiefs were summoned after a wave of suspected AI-linked cyberattacks hit financial institutions in recent weeks.

As of Oct. 14, 16 financial firms, including banks, savings banks and insurers, had reported cybersecurity incidents that exposed about 100,000 personal records, according to financial authorities.

Among the affected lenders, Shinhan Bank reported a data breach involving about 25,000 people, while KB Kookmin Bank and Hana Bank reported leaks affecting 119 and 89 customers, respectively. Woori Bank and NH NongHyup Bank have not reported customer data breaches linked to the recent incidents.

Financial Supervisory Service Gov. Lee Chan-jin speaks during a National Assembly audit in Yeouido, Seoul, Monday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

The incidents have raised concerns about vulnerabilities in banks' security systems. Rather than directly targeting core banking networks, the attacks involved abnormal access to internal support systems, prompting suspicions that AI agents may have been used to automate the process.

Financial regulators and law enforcement authorities have been conducting investigations to identify perpetrators.

FSS Gov. Lee Chan-jin pledged to address the vulnerabilities exposed by the breaches by investigating thoroughly.

"The recent security breaches have caused great concern among the public. We will swiftly address security vulnerabilities through a thorough investigation," the governor said during the audit.

He added that the watchdog will encourage financial institutions to use AI to strengthen their defenses against AI-powered attacks.

"We will consult with the Financial Services Commission to review various measures aimed at encouraging financial institutions to increase their investment in security and personnel," he said.

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AI-driven cyberattacks hit 16 financial firms, expose 100,000 records

周一，五家大型商业银行的首席执行官在国会接受审计，就近期人工智能辅助的网络攻击事件接受质询。KB国民银行、新韩银行、韩亚银行、友利银行和农协银行的行长分别道歉或承诺加强网络安全措施。此次攻击影响了16家金融机构，约10万条个人记录遭到泄露，监管机构正在调查内部支持系统的漏洞。

新韩银行报告称发生数据泄露事件，影响约 25,000 人；而 KB 国民银行和韩亚银行分别报告称发生数据泄露事件，影响 119 名和 89 名客户。

截至 10 月 14 日，受影响的金融公司包括银行、储蓄银行和保险公司，这些公司报告了网络安全事件，导致约 10 万条个人记录泄露。

韩亚银行首席执行官李浩成表示，该银行将增加网络安全预算和人员配备，采用基于人工智能的安全系统，并对客户因该事件造成的任何损失进行全额赔偿。

友利银行首席执行官郑镇完表示，该银行每天面临约 200 次黑客攻击，但尚未报告与最近发生的事件相关的客户数据泄露。

金融服务委员会主席李灿镇表示，监管机构将调查这些违规行为，并与金融服务委员会协商采取措施，鼓励加大对安保和人员的投资。

发布于2026年10月19日下午4:29（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月19日下午4:40（韩国标准时间）

FSS总裁誓言彻底调查数据泄露事件

周一，KB国民银行CEO李焕柱（左起）、新韩银行CEO郑相赫、韩亚银行CEO李浩升、友利银行CEO郑镇完和NH农协银行CEO姜泰荣在首尔国会出席审计活动。（韩联社）

周一，五家主要商业银行的负责人因近期一系列人工智能（AI）辅助的网络攻击事件在国民议会接受审计，议员们对网络安全和内部控制表示担忧。

KB国民银行CEO李焕柱、新韩银行CEO郑相赫、韩亚银行CEO李浩升、友利银行CEO郑镇完和NH农协银行CEO姜泰荣被传唤为金融监督院(FSS)国会审计的证人。

这是自 2022 年 10 月以来，五家贷款机构的负责人首次被传唤到同一审计现场作证。

“对于一家以信任为基石的金融机构发生安全事件，给我们的客户和公众带来的担忧，我深表歉意，”KB国民银行首席执行官李焕柱表示。“我们将尽一切努力防止此类事件再次发生，包括确保充足的预算和人员配备，并加强安全系统以抵御人工智能驱动的网络攻击。”

新韩银行首席执行官郑相赫在回答主要反对党国民力量党议员金在燮关于数据泄露事件的质询时表示：“我对此次事件深表歉意。”

韩亚银行首席执行官李浩成表示，该银行将“增加网络安全预算和人员配备，并采用基于人工智能的安全系统，以防止类似事件的发生”。

李表示，银行将全额赔偿客户因该事件造成的任何损失，尽管目前尚未确认有任何客户损失。

友利银行首席执行官郑镇完表示：“我们每天面临大约 200 次黑客攻击，我们的员工将尽最大努力防止任何损失。”他还补充说，该银行认为自己很幸运，在最近的攻击浪潮中幸免于难。

最近几周，金融机构遭受了一波疑似与人工智能相关的网络攻击，之后银行高管们被召集起来进行调查。

据金融监管机构称，截至 10 月 14 日，包括银行、储蓄银行和保险公司在内的 16 家金融公司报告了网络安全事件，导致约 10 万条个人记录泄露。

在受影响的银行中，新韩银行报告称发生数据泄露事件，涉及约25,000人；KB国民银行和韩亚银行分别报告称，有119名和89名客户的数据遭到泄露。友利银行和NH农协银行尚未报告与近期事件相关的客户数据泄露。

韩国金融监督院院长李灿镇周一在首尔汝矣岛出席国会审计活动时发表讲话。（韩国时报 沈贤哲 摄）

这些事件引发了人们对银行安全系统漏洞的担忧。攻击并非直接针对银行核心网络，而是涉及对内部支持系统的异常访问，这让人怀疑人工智能代理可能被用于自动化攻击过程。

金融监管机构和执法部门一直在进行调查，以查明犯罪者身份。

韩国食品安全局局长李灿镇承诺将通过彻底调查来解决此次安全漏洞暴露出的脆弱性。

“近期发生的安全漏洞引起了公众的极大关注。我们将通过彻底调查，迅速解决安全漏洞问题。”州长在审计期间表示。

他还补充说，监管机构将鼓励金融机构利用人工智能来加强对人工智能攻击的防御。

他说：“我们将与金融服务委员会协商，审查旨在鼓励金融机构增加对安全和人员投入的各项措施。”

网络攻击导致存款下降，各银行竞相加强人工智能防御措施

FSS负责人承诺在数据泄露事件后加强网络安全

人工智能驱动的网络攻击袭击了16家金融公司，导致10万条记录泄露。