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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] A widespread mobile banking disruption has affected users of NH NongHyup Bank, with many iPhone customers unable to access financial services due to a login system failure.
According to industry sources on May 20, the issue began over the weekend and primarily impacted devices running iOS, including iPhone models. Users reported being unable to proceed past the login screen or access the app entirely.
The bank confirmed that the disruption stems from a technical defect in the pattern-based authentication system, where users unlock the app by drawing a pattern on the screen. Emergency recovery efforts are currently underway.
While alternative login methods—such as biometric authentication (fingerprint or facial recognition) and password entry—remain functional, many users had set pattern unlock as their primary authentication method. As a result, a significant number of customers have been locked out of essential services, including account transfers and balance checks.
The bank had issued a notice on May 18 warning that devices configured with pattern-based login via NH certificates might experience access issues, advising users to reinstall the app and switch to a simple password login as a temporary workaround.
Despite these measures, the issue had not been fully resolved as of the morning of May 20, leading to growing frustration among users.
The incident highlights the risks associated with reliance on specific authentication methods in mobile financial services, particularly when technical failures prevent users from accessing critical banking functions.
Alphabiz Reporter Paul Lee(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
