South Korea’s Lee Says AI May Have Been Used in Recent Bank Hacks
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has warned that artificial intelligence may have been used in some recent hacking attacks targeting the country's banks, as authorities investigate a series of data breaches affecting financial institutions.
Lee said on Tuesday that signs of AI use had emerged in some hacking incidents and called for the circumstances to be established quickly. He also urged authorities to develop cybersecurity measures suited to an era in which artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly capable.
The warning comes after a series of cyberattacks exposed personal information at several South Korean financial institutions.
AI Use Under Investigation
Lee said during a cabinet meeting that authorities had found circumstances suggesting AI may have been involved in some of the recent attacks.
However, South Korean authorities have not publicly established that AI was definitively responsible for carrying out the bank hacks. Investigators are still examining how the attackers gained access to financial systems and what tools were used.
The president instructed officials to determine the facts quickly and concentrate personnel and resources on limiting further damage.
Major Banks Hit by Cyberattacks
The recent attacks have affected several South Korean financial institutions.
Shinhan Bank said on September 30 that personal information belonging to about 25,000 customers had been compromised. The leaked information reportedly included customers' names, phone numbers and annual income.
Sources cited by Yonhap said the attackers had used advanced AI tools in the Shinhan incident.
Other financial institutions, including Hana Bank, KB Kookmin Bank, Woori Bank and NH Nonghyup Bank, have also faced hacking attempts or data breaches.
Hana Bank reported that information relating to 89 customers had been leaked, while Woori Bank and NH Nonghyup Bank were able to block unauthorized access without confirming personal-information leaks.
President Orders Wider Security Review
Lee had already ordered a comprehensive investigation on October 4 after being briefed on data breaches involving banks, financial institutions and public agencies.
His latest comments indicate that the government is increasingly concerned about the possibility that advanced AI tools could make cyberattacks more sophisticated and difficult to detect.
South Korea's financial regulators have also called for stronger security measures following the attacks. The Financial Services Commission and Financial Supervisory Service have been examining the incidents and coordinating with affected companies.
Growing Concern Over AI-Powered Cyberattacks
The South Korean incidents highlight a broader cybersecurity concern: increasingly capable AI systems could potentially help attackers automate parts of cyber operations, identify vulnerabilities and adapt attacks more quickly.
For banks, the threat is particularly serious because financial institutions hold large amounts of sensitive personal and financial information.
At the same time, investigators need to establish exactly what happened in the South Korean cases before drawing conclusions about the role of AI.
The government is therefore facing a dual challenge — containing the immediate data breaches while determining whether existing cybersecurity systems are capable of dealing with attacks involving advanced artificial intelligence.
South Korea Pushes for AI-Era Cybersecurity
Lee has called for cybersecurity methods to evolve alongside artificial intelligence.
The president's remarks come as South Korea is also investing heavily in AI development and seeking to strengthen its position in the global AI race.
The recent bank attacks demonstrate the potential security risks that can accompany rapid advances in AI technology. For South Korean authorities, the priority now is to identify the attackers, determine whether AI was used and prevent similar breaches from spreading across the country's financial sector.
The investigation remains ongoing, and further details are expected as police, financial regulators and affected banks examine the attacks.