South Korea PM Calls for Security Overhaul After Bank Cyberattacks; Police Open Probe

The attacks led to back-to-back leaks of customer information at several financial firms, including Hana Bank, KB Kookmin Bank and Shinhan Bank, Yonhap News reported.

President Lee Jae Myung has said the issue should be taken seriously and called for a thorough investigation. On Tuesday, Han presided over a meeting with related ministers to discuss the issue.

'This is a serious situation because this incident is believed to have taken advantage of artificial intelligence, and if AI is used in phishing attacks, it could lead to secondary damage,' Han said. 'It is also a serious situation in that similar hacking methods could spread beyond the financial sector to industries, as well as government and public sectors.'

Han said the rise in such information security breaches demonstrates that the existing security awareness, systems and government frameworks are insufficient to cope with the rapidly changing information landscape.

'Government agencies, public institutions, the financial sector and private enterprises should all remain vigilant, and they should take this incident as an opportunity to swiftly resolve the issue and completely overhaul our security systems,' Han said.

She instructed police to mobilize all available capabilities to thoroughly investigate the case, while urging financial authorities to ensure that affected institutions implement proper customer protection measures and provide compensation for the damage.

Police have launched an investigation into the recent series of cyberattacks against financial companies, officials said Tuesday. The National Office of Investigation said it has formed a 28-member team to investigate the case on suspicion of violations of the information and communications network law.

Officials are also reviewing whether the case should be sent to the newly launched Serious Crime Investigation Agency, which handles cyber crimes against key state facilities and hacks into electronic financial infrastructure.

'(We) will carry out an investigation swiftly and strictly while closely cooperating with relevant agencies to ease the public's anxiety,' the NOI said.

Editor's Summary South Korean Prime Minister Han Seong-sook called for a sweeping overhaul of the country's information protection system after customer data leaks at Hana Bank, KB Kookmin Bank and Shinhan Bank, saying the attacks may have used artificial intelligence. Police formed a 28-member team to investigate suspected violations of the information and communications network law and are reviewing whether the case should be sent to a new serious crime agency. The government is also urging customer protection and compensation as officials warn that similar hacking methods could spread beyond the financial sector.