President Lee Jae Myung announced that hackers compromised user data at seven financial institutions. Officials noted that artificial intelligence played a role in these incidents, which has raised significant public concern regarding the security of financial systems.
The attackers targeted less secure third-party systems rather than core payment networks. In one specific case, a hacker bypassed identity verification on a portal used by loan brokers, resulting in the exposure of data belonging to approximately 25,000 Shinhan Bank customers.
While no funds were reported stolen, authorities characterized the situation as a new type of crisis. Experts suggest that the hackers likely utilized Artex, an open-source Chinese-language tool designed to identify and test system vulnerabilities using AI.
Security analysts emphasize that AI is industrializing existing cybersecurity threats by automating tasks that previously required extensive human labor. This shift allows individuals to identify vulnerabilities at a fraction of the historical cost and time, creating a new asymmetry in digital defense.
