Chinese Hacker Who Stole Jungkook’s HYBE Shares Arrested in Thailand

A Chinese hacker behind a ₩38 billion ($28M) cyber theft has been extradited to South Korea.

The 34-year-old suspect, identified only as “A,” was arrested in Thailand after masterminding a hacking scheme that targeted high-profile Koreans—including BTS’s Jungkook and several top business tycoons.

Authorities revealed that Jungkook’s securities account was breached, with 33,500 HYBE shares worth around ₩8.4 billion ($6.2M) stolen. Part of the stolen shares had been sold before HYBE and Jungkook’s legal team intervened, successfully reversing the transfers through court action.

The crimes occurred between August 2023 and January 2024, involving stolen identities, fake mobile accounts, and the transfer of funds from financial and crypto assets.

With the cooperation of Interpol, the suspect was detained in Bangkok and landed at Incheon Airport on August 22, 2025. He now faces interrogation as South Korean authorities seek a formal arrest warrant.

Officials stated they will continue to strengthen international efforts against hacking, voice phishing, and large-scale cyber fraud.