Chinese National Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Targeting Wealthy Individuals in South Korea, Including BTS's Jungkook
A hacking group leader who targeted wealthy individuals in South Korea, including BTS’s Jungkook and conglomerate chairpersons, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. Jeon Mo, a Chinese national, was found guilty of fraud and violations of the Information and Communications Network Act. He illegally obtained personal information of wealthy individuals, opened mobile phone lines in their names, and embezzled around 38 billion Korean won from financial and virtual asset accounts. The targets included businesspeople, entertainers, influencers, and virtual asset investors. Jeon Mo was arrested in Thailand, repatriated to South Korea, and indicted without detention. Despite claiming that he was not the leader, the court determined that he orchestrated the crimes based on evidence from WeChat accounts and an external hard drive.
The court concluded that Jeon Mo led the virtual asset theft and was directly involved in the crimes of his accomplices. It rejected his claim of another leader named ‘Han Sung’ and held him responsible for the crimes. Jeon Mo specifically targeted South Korea’s wealthy individuals, causing significant financial losses without their fault. The court acknowledged that the crime had serious implications for the country’s financial system. Despite some mitigating factors, Jeon Mo was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the crimes.
In addition to the fraud charges, Jeon Mo was also indicted for violating the Information and Communications Network Act but was acquitted. The court determined that the issuance of i-PINs and joint certificates in the victims’ names did not constitute a breach of their secrets stored in existing information networks. Jeon Mo’s actions were deemed a serious threat to the financial security of South Korea, and the court’s decision reflects the severity of his crimes.