South Korean President Says AI May Be Involved in Bank Cyberattacks; Police Launch 28-Member Probe

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said on October 6 at a cabinet meeting that some recent cyberattacks against the country's banks may have involved artificial intelligence, raising public concerns. He urged relevant agencies to quickly identify the circumstances, concentrate resources to minimize damage, and develop cybersecurity defense measures adapted to the AI era.

According to Yonhap and AFP, Lee said during the meeting that "some hacking attacks showed signs of AI use, causing considerable public concern and anxiety." He stressed that the government should respond promptly to public worries and strengthen security protections for the financial system.

Police have launched a full investigation into the cyberattacks against multiple commercial banks that led to customer data leaks, and have set up a 28-member special investigation team. The Financial Services Commission previously reported that Shinhan Bank and KB Kookmin Bank were among those affected. Yonhap also reported data leak incidents at Hana Bank and Woori Bank.

Authorities have not yet disclosed which AI tools were used by the attackers or the full scale of the leaked data. The investigation is ongoing.