Lee orders swift probe into data leaks, says some hacks used AI
In short
President Lee Jae-myung ordered authorities to establish swiftly and clearly how recent personal information leaks at financial-sector companies and public institutions happened, saying public concern is high because some of the hacking was found to have used artificial intelligence. He told agencies to concentrate personnel and resources on minimising damage and to inspect security systems across the private sector and national core systems, adding that “speed is life.”
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President Lee Jae-myung on October 6 ordered authorities to establish swiftly and clearly how recent personal information leaks at financial-sector companies and public institutions occurred, speaking at a cabinet meeting he presided over at the Blue House, Seoul Economic Daily reported. [ 2 ]
Lee said some of the hacking had been found to use artificial intelligence, and that public concern and anxiety were very large, according to the report. He said AI now allows hacking “even without special capabilities,” and told the relevant authorities to concentrate personnel and resources on minimising damage. [ 2 ]
He said advances in AI are making hacking methods increasingly sophisticated and spreading the scope of damage in ways that are difficult to compare with the past, and that the government, companies and society as a whole must take the situation seriously and stay especially alert. Responding only by cleaning up after an incident makes it hard to counter evolving cyber threats, he said, calling for the capability to detect and block attacks in advance. [ 2 ]
Lee asked the relevant ministries to inspect security systems across both the private sector and national core systems promptly and to implement necessary fixes immediately, stressing that “speed is life.” He also called for accelerating the development and distribution of AI technology specialised in cybersecurity. [ 2 , 3 ]
Kukmin Ilbo and Seoul Shinmun also carried the order, the former leading on the personal information leak in the financial sector and the latter on increasingly sophisticated AI hacking methods and the need to check national core system security promptly. Neither outlet, nor the fuller report, named the companies or institutions affected or gave the scale of the damage. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The directive puts the presidency directly behind a review of cybersecurity at financial firms and public institutions, and points to AI-assisted hacking as a source of risk in South Korea. It also signals that the government intends to push pre-emptive detection and AI-based security tools, with relevant ministries told to act immediately. The documents do not identify which organisations were affected or the scale of the leaks.
Key facts
- President Lee Jae-myung ordered that the circumstances of recent personal information leaks be established swiftly and clearly. [ 1 , 2 ]
- He said the incidents involved the financial sector and public institutions. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Lee said some of the hacking was found to have used artificial intelligence. [ 2 , 3 ]
- He told relevant agencies to concentrate personnel and resources on minimising damage. [ 2 ]
- He called for pre-emptive detection and blocking of attacks rather than post-incident cleanup. [ 2 ]
- He asked relevant ministries to inspect security systems across the private sector and national core systems and to carry out needed fixes immediately. [ 2 , 3 ]
- He called for faster development and distribution of AI technology specialised in cybersecurity. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Which financial companies and public institutions suffered the leaks. No document names any affected organisation.
- The number of people affected and the scale of the damage. No document gives figures for the leaks.
- When the leaks took place and whether they are confirmed to have been carried out with AI. The documents give no dates and report the AI element only as the president's account of the incidents.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Kukmin Ilbo reports that President Lee ordered a swift investigation into the circumstances of the financial-sector personal information leak. [ 1 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily reports in detail on Lee's remarks at the cabinet meeting at the Blue House, including that some hacking used AI and that “speed is life.” [ 2 ]
- Seoul Shinmun reports Lee's call for AI hacking methods to be addressed and for national core system security checks to be carried out promptly. [ 3 ]