Cybercrime ring busted over AI-powered data theft targeting hospitals, businesses

Seven suspects allegedly stole 8.2 million pieces of personal information and internal records from more than 90 entities, including hospitals, private academies and businesses, in South Korea until recently from September last year. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said the group used AI tools to hack 60 targets and tried to extort some of them. The 32-year-old alleged ringleader was referred to prosecutors on Friday while in detention, and the other suspects are being questioned.

The group demanded a combined 360 million won from 38 entities that suffered losses.

Police said the alleged ringleader was a self-taught hacker who learned hacking skills while working at a security company and conducting mock hacking attacks.

Authorities have also been on alert over suspected AI-assisted cybercrime, including a series of high-profile attacks targeting local financial institutions.

Published Oct 26, 2026 3:03 pm KST

A suspect, right, accused of hacking into businesses and stealing personal information by using artificial intelligence, is put under arrest in this photo released Monday. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency

Police have busted a cybercrime ring that allegedly stole over 8 million pieces of personal information from dozens of businesses by using artificial intelligence (AI), officials said Monday.

Seven suspects allegedly stole 8.2 million pieces of personal data and other internal records from over 90 entities, including hospitals, private academies and businesses, until recently from September last year, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.

The group is suspected of using AI tools to hack 60 of the targets and attempting to extort some of them.

Of the targeted entities, 38 suffered losses, with the group demanding a combined 360 million won ($272,000) from them.

Police said the group's 32-year-old ring leader was referred to the prosecution on Friday while he was under physical detention. The other suspects are facing further questioning.

The ringleader, a self-taught hacker, learned about hacking skills by working at a security company, where the suspect was in charge of mock hacking attacks.

Authorities have recently been on alert over cybercrime suspected of employing AI tools, including a series of high-profile attacks targeting local financial institutions.

据称，七名嫌疑人从去年9月起至近期，在韩国境内从包括医院、私立学校和企业在内的90多家机构窃取了820万条个人信息和内部记录。首尔地方警察厅表示，该团伙利用人工智能工具入侵了60个目标，并试图敲诈勒索其中一些目标。32岁的头目嫌疑人于周五在拘留期间被移交检方，其他嫌疑人正在接受讯问。

该组织向遭受损失的 38 个实体索赔共计 3.6 亿韩元。

警方称，这名涉嫌主谋是一名自学成才的黑客，他在一家安全公司工作期间通过进行模拟黑客攻击学习了黑客技术。

当局也对疑似人工智能辅助的网络犯罪保持警惕，其中包括一系列针对当地金融机构的高调攻击。

发布于2026年10月26日下午3:03（韩国标准时间）

这张照片于周一公布，照片中一名嫌疑人（右）被逮捕，他被指控利用人工智能入侵企业系统并窃取个人信息。照片由首尔地方警察厅提供。

警方周一表示，他们捣毁了一个网络犯罪团伙，该团伙涉嫌利用人工智能（AI）从数十家企业窃取了超过 800 万条个人信息。

据首尔地方警察厅称，七名嫌疑人涉嫌从去年九月起，从包括医院、私立学校和企业在内的 90 多个实体窃取了 820 万份个人数据和其他内部记录。

该组织涉嫌使用人工智能工具入侵 60 个目标系统，并试图勒索其中一些目标。

在被针对的实体中，有 38 家遭受了损失，该组织向它们索要总计 3.6 亿韩元（27.2 万美元）的赔偿。

警方表示，该团伙32岁的头目已于周五被移交检方，目前已被警方拘留。其他嫌疑人将面临进一步讯问。

该团伙头目是一名自学成才的黑客，他曾在一家安全公司工作，负责模拟黑客攻击，并在此期间学习了黑客技术。

最近，当局对涉嫌使用人工智能工具的网络犯罪保持警惕，其中包括一系列针对当地金融机构的高调攻击。