Overview
- South Korea took custody of a 40-year-old Chinese suspect flown from Bangkok to Incheon, with police now questioning him and preparing to seek a formal arrest warrant.
- Prosecutors say his group stole more than 38 billion won by pulling personal data from hacked government and public agency sites and using it to raid bank and crypto accounts.
- Investigators describe a key tactic in which the ring abused remote SIM activation at budget carriers to register phones in the names of 89 victims and pass identity checks for transfers.
- Victims included celebrities and business leaders, and an attempt to move 8.4 billion won in HYBE shares from BTS member Jungkook’s account was flagged and frozen before losses.
- An earlier alleged leader was extradited in August 2025 and is on trial, and officials credit joint work with Thai authorities and Interpol with securing arrests as forensic reviews continue.