A Chinese national identified by the surname Jeon, accused of masterminding a hacking operation that stole 38 billion won (approximately ₱1.7 billion) from high-profile victims, including BTS member Jungkook, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Seoul Central District Court.
The alleged mastermind behind a sophisticated hacking operation that stole assets worth approximately 38 billion won, or around ₱1.7 billion, from South Korean celebrities, corporate executives and cryptocurrency investors has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.
The Seoul Central District Court found a Chinese national identified by the surname Jeon guilty of fraud and violations of South Korea’s Information and Communications Act. Prosecutors accused Jeon of orchestrating a criminal network that targeted wealthy individuals and exploited stolen personal information to gain access to their financial accounts.
In its ruling, the court described the case as particularly serious because the victims were not ordinary targets of conventional voice-phishing schemes. Instead, the victims were allegedly deprived of their assets without any negligence or wrongdoing on their part.
The court emphasized that the crime represented a serious threat to the country’s financial security, describing it as an offense that could undermine the “foundation of the public financial system.”
READ OTHER ARTICLES:
- Carlos Yulo, Hindi Balak Imbitahan ang mga Magulang sa Kasal Nila ni Chloe San Jose
- Mickey Ferriols nalungkot sa mga kontrobersiya ni Archie Alemania, anak nila napatanong tungkol sa ama
- Barbie Imperial at Richard Gutierrez, Usap-usapan Dahil sa Umano’y Hindi Pagkakaunawaan
- John Eriq Bonifacio, Dalawang Parangal Sinungkit sa Mister Cosmopolitan 2026 sa Vietnam
- WATCH: Kumakalat na Social Media Post Scandal Video kina Max Damian, John Iverson Gallego at Jaden Yu
- Jeon Sentenced to 20 Years for ₱1.7-Billion Hacking Scheme Targeting BTS’ Jungkook and Business Tycoons
Jeon was also criticized by the court for showing little remorse throughout the proceedings. His claim that another person was the real mastermind behind the operation was not substantiated by sufficient evidence, according to the ruling.
Among those targeted was BTS member Jungkook, whose financial assets were allegedly targeted by the hacking group. The operation also involved eight corporate chairmen, chief executive officers and presidents, as well as an executive, three celebrities and three cryptocurrency investors.
The hacking ring reportedly stole approximately 8.4 billion won, or about ₱374 million, worth of shares in HYBE, the entertainment company behind BTS. The transaction was ultimately prevented after HYBE froze the K-pop star’s account, stopping the attempted transfer of the shares.
Investigators said the operation was part of a broader criminal scheme that had been active in Thailand between August 2023 and January 2025. Jeon was previously accused of organizing a hacking group that illegally acquired personal information and used stolen identities to establish mobile phone lines.
Those mobile lines were allegedly used to obtain access to victims’ financial accounts, allowing the group to carry out unauthorized transactions and steal substantial amounts of money and other assets.
Jeon was arrested in Thailand in May 2025 before being repatriated to South Korea in August of the same year to face the charges.
The lengthy prison sentence underscores the seriousness with which South Korean authorities are treating organized cybercrime, particularly attacks that exploit stolen personal information and target individuals with significant financial assets.
The case also highlights the growing sophistication of cybercriminal networks, which are increasingly combining identity theft, telecommunications fraud and unauthorized access to financial accounts to carry out large-scale theft.
For high-profile victims such as Jungkook and the corporate executives involved, the incident demonstrates that wealth and public prominence can make individuals attractive targets for increasingly organized cybercriminal operations.
- Carlos Yulo, Hindi Balak Imbitahan ang mga Magulang sa Kasal Nila ni Chloe San Jose
- Mickey Ferriols nalungkot sa mga kontrobersiya ni Archie Alemania, anak nila napatanong tungkol sa ama
- Barbie Imperial at Richard Gutierrez, Usap-usapan Dahil sa Umano’y Hindi Pagkakaunawaan
- At Least 26 Children Killed in DR Congo School Fire Stampede
- John Eriq Bonifacio, Dalawang Parangal Sinungkit sa Mister Cosmopolitan 2026 sa Vietnam
