Seoul:President Lee Jae Myung has called for a comprehensive investigation into recent hacking incidents that led to personal data leaks at prominent banks and financial institutions.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the president was briefed on the security breaches affecting financial and public institutions and instructed authorities to conduct a thorough investigation. He emphasized the importance of addressing the issue seriously and developing effective measures to prevent future occurrences.

Recent attacks targeted several banks, including Hana Bank, KB Kookmin Bank, and Shinhan Bank. On Thursday, Shinhan Bank reported a leak of personal information belonging to approximately 25,000 customers, including names, phone numbers, and annual incomes. Hackers reportedly used advanced AI tools in the attack. Meanwhile, Hana Bank reported a leak affecting 89 customers, and both Woori Bank and NH Nonghyup Bank experienced hacking attempts but successfully blocked unauthorized access.

In response to these incidents, Financial Services Commission Chairman Lee Eog-weon and Lee Chan-jin, governor of the Financial Supervisory Service, held an emergency meeting with leaders from the affected firms. They noted a series of security breaches across various sectors, including major commercial banks, savings banks, and specialized credit finance firms. While no sensitive information for unauthorized payments seems to have been leaked, there is concern that the exposed data could be exploited for scams such as voice phishing.

Officials advised the financial sector to maintain a high level of vigilance and acknowledged the potential use of AI tools in these hacking activities.