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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] Seoul – South Korean police have launched an investigation following a wave of unauthorized small-payment fraud cases in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, with reports indicating that many of the victims were KT mobile subscribers.
According to police on September 6, Geumcheon Police Station received multiple complaints since late August from individuals who claimed that tens of thousands of won worth of gift cards had been purchased through mobile micropayments without their consent. Similar reports were also filed with Gwangmyeong Police Station, prompting authorities to open a broader inquiry.
Victims reported that transactions included gift cards and transit cards charged without their approval, in some cases amounting to hundreds of thousands of won. There were also allegations that mobile payment limits had been raised automatically, further exacerbating losses.
The majority of reported cases were concentrated in Seoul’s Geumcheon District and Gwangmyeong City, Gyeonggi Province, where police identified more than 50 victims.
Because most victims were KT subscribers, speculation has emerged that the incidents may be linked to a potential hacking breach at KT.
The controversy follows a report published by U.S. cybersecurity journal Frack, which alleged that hacker groups—believed to be backed by North Korea or China—had infiltrated South Korean government agencies and telecom operators. The report claimed that files from KT and LG Uplus were found on compromised hacker servers. In response, the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) and other regulators have initiated investigations.
KT has denied any confirmed evidence of a hacking breach, but stated it would fully cooperate with ongoing inquiries.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
