As Hacking Risks Spread, Calls Grow for Stronger Cyber Liability and Insurance Mandates (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean authorities warned on Wednesday that personal data stolen from at least 21 domestic medical and educational institutions, as well as online shopping platforms, appears to have been sold online, underscoring growing concerns over a sustained wave of cyberattacks targeting sensitive information.
The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Internet & Security Agency said they had detected signs that a hacking group had recently set up an online community to steal internal data from hospitals, schools and e-commerce sites and then sell the information to buyers. Officials said the activity suggests that a coordinated series of cyber intrusions is currently under way.
Investigators believe that a hacker or group operating under the alias “AshleyWood2022” sold stolen data from local organizations and online retailers through the community between December and early January. The affected entities include universities and plastic surgery clinics, authorities said.
The compromised information is believed to include website login IDs, user names, email addresses and passwords, raising concerns about the potential for further misuse, including identity theft and secondary attacks.
Officials emphasized that Coupang, South Korea’s largest e-commerce platform, which recently disclosed a separate large-scale data breach, was not among the companies identified in this case.
The ministry said it has notified the affected organizations and urged them to strengthen cybersecurity defenses, including access controls and monitoring systems. Authorities added that they will continue to track the illegal circulation of stolen data, including on the dark web, while providing technical assistance and preventive guidance to organizations at risk.
The incident highlights the growing sophistication of cybercriminals and the increasing pressure on South Korean institutions to bolster defenses as digital services become more deeply embedded in everyday life.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
