South Korean president warns AI was used to hack more than seven banks, exposing 68,000 customers' data

From the Newshound archive · first published 6 October 2026 · last updated 7 October 2026.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung addressed a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, warning that evidence of AI-driven cyberattacks against the country's financial sector had emerged, sparking what he described as 'considerable concern and anxiety among the public.' At his urging, police have opened a full-scale investigation, with officials indicating it is 'highly likely' that Artex AI, a Chinese open-source security testing tool, was used to carry out the breaches. Lee cautioned that AI has made hacking easy 'even for those without special skills.'

More than seven institutions were targeted, among them Shinhan Bank, KB Kookmin Bank, Hana Bank and Woori Bank, with upwards of 68,000 customers caught up in the breaches.

Shinhan Bank alone confirmed that data belonging to 25,000 loan applicants had been exposed, including personal details such as names, contact numbers and income information.

Investigators are looking into whether the attacks were part of a coordinated campaign, and authorities have yet to determine how far the breaches extend.