BTS’ Jungkook Falls Victim to Major Hacking Scam: 8.4 Billion Won in Stocks Stolen, Mastermind Arrested
BTS’ Jungkook was a victim of a massive hacking scam where 8.4 billion won worth of HYBE shares were stolen. The mastermind has been arrested and extradited from Thailand.
BTS’ Jungkook was among the victims of a major hacking scam in South Korea, with stocks worth 8.4 billion won stolen.
Global K-pop sensation Jungkook of BTS has been named as one of the victims in a significant South Korean stock theft and hacking incident. The 34-year-old Chinese national who was the mastermind of the cybercrime has been apprehended and extradited from Thailand, according to authorities.
Information about the Hacking Case
The accused—who was only identified as Mr. A—led a hacking syndicate that allegedly stole an estimated 38 billion won by breaking into the financial and virtual asset accounts of well-known people, celebrities, and business leaders, according to South Korea's Ministry of Justice.
The group allegedly broke into mobile carrier websites between August 2023 and January 2024 in order to steal personal information. The hackers were then able to unlawfully syphon off funds and assets by using this information to open fictitious mobile accounts in the victims' names.
The Methods Used to Target Jungkook
One of the most well-known victims was BTS member Jungkook. Hackers took 33,500 HYBE shares, worth about 8.4 billion won (roughly USD 6.1 million), from his securities account in January 2024, not long after he enlisted in the military.
Later in March 2024, Jungkook and his agency, Big Hit Music, filed a lawsuit after 500 of the stolen shares were unknowingly purchased by a third party. The court ruled in Jungkook’s favor, confirming that the transfer was invalid and ordering the shares to be returned.
Growing Concern Over Cybercrime
This case underscores the increasing scale of cyber fraud and identity theft targeting high-profile celebrities and influential figures in South Korea. While Jungkook successfully regained his stolen shares, the incident has raised fresh concerns over online security and financial safety.
