SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - South Korean authorities on Wednesday repatriated a 40-year-old Chinese national accused of leading a sophisticated hacking ring that attempted to steal 8.4 billion won from BTS star Jeon Jung-kook. The suspect, identified only as A, was escorted from Bangkok to Incheon International Airport following a coordinated effort between the Ministry of Justice and the National Police Agency.
The extradition marks a major development in an investigation into a syndicate that allegedly siphoned 38 billion won ($25.4 million) from 16 high-profile victims. The group specialized in hunting for wealthy individuals who were physically unable to check their financial alerts, such as celebrities serving in the military or individuals in correctional facilities.
The 28-year-old BTS member became a primary target while he was away for his mandatory military service. The hackers allegedly used his stolen personal data to open fraudulent phone accounts, which they used to bypass security and attempt to seize his shares in HYBE, the agency behind BTS.
A massive loss was only avoided because his management agency spotted the unauthorized activity in time. Once the agency realized someone was trying to move the 8.4 billion won in stocks, they worked with financial institutions to freeze the transactions immediately.
Other victims included corporate chairmen and legal professionals who lost significant amounts of cash and cryptocurrency. Investigators said the gang started with a list of 258 potential targets before narrowing it down to a final list based on who had the most assets and the least ability to fight back quickly.
South Korean officials spent months working with Thai prosecutors and Interpol to secure the suspect's return. This follows the earlier extradition of a 36-year-old accomplice in August, as part of a wider crackdown on transnational cybercrime.
The Ministry of Justice said it intends to pursue international fraud rings until all members are brought to justice. The accomplice is currently standing trial in South Korea after being indicted in September following his initial extradition.
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