South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on 6 October 2026, during a cabinet meeting, that signs have emerged of AI being used in some recent hacking incidents against banks, creating considerable public concern and anxiety, urging authorities to “establish the circumstances swiftly and clearly and concentrate personnel and resources on minimizing the damage”.
The incidents affected major banks: Shinhan Bank reported exposure of information relating to approximately 25,000 customers through a system used by loan brokers to check application status. Yegaram Savings Bank reported approximately 40,000 affected customers, while Welcome Savings Bank, KB Kookmin Bank, Hana Bank, BNK Busan Bank and Hyundai Capital also reported incidents involving customer or contractor information.
More than 67,000 people are believed to have had personal information exposed, including names, telephone numbers, income information, loan-related data and, in some cases, resident registration numbers. No evidence has so far indicated that information directly enabling unauthorised payments was compromised or that customer funds were stolen.
by Digital Watch Observatory – South Korean President Lee Jae Myung says AI used in recent bank hacking incidents on 7 financial institutions
