President Lee Jae-myung has called for a full investigation into a hacking case linked to KT’s small payment service. He said there are strong suspicions that parts of the case were covered up or downplayed. He stressed that those responsible must be held to account.
These remarks came during a senior secretaries’ meeting at the presidential office in Yongsan. President Lee explained that it is not enough to just confirm the number of victims. He said the country must also make every effort to stop similar crimes from happening again.
In his statement, President Lee used a strong comparison. He said losing a cow is a problem, but failing to repair the shed afterward is even worse. With this, he pointed out that companies like KT must not treat security investments as unnecessary costs. He also said the government has a duty to make sure such security weaknesses are fixed from the ground up.
Scope of the KT Small Payment Hacking
According to the Ministry of Science and ICT, the hacking led to 278 reported cases of financial damage between August 27 and September 10. The total damages are estimated at about 170 million Korean won.
How Cyber Attacks on Industrial Control Systems Can Endanger Lives ?
The confirmed sites of the hacking are in three areas. These are Gwangmyeong and Bucheon in Gyeonggi Province, and Geumcheon-gu in Seoul. However, the ministry noted that more cases are being reported outside of these areas. This suggests that the true number of victims could be much higher than what has been officially confirmed so far.
The use of KT’s small payment system is common across the country. Because of this, many fear that the ripple effects of this hacking could extend far beyond the three locations first identified. People are now worried that other cities and towns might soon report similar cases.
President Lee Jae-myung Calls for Accountability and Security Improvements
President Lee Jae-myung pointed out that the hacking is not just about money. It also raises questions about whether companies like KT take cybersecurity seriously. He underlined that firms should reflect on how they view security spending. If they only see it as a burden, he warned, then more incidents like this will happen.
He made it clear that protecting people’s money and personal information must always be a top priority. He demanded that both the government and private companies act quickly to repair security gaps.
President Lee’s firm words show how serious the situation has become. With the damages already at 170 million won and reports still growing, many expect more victims to come forward. The probe he demanded aims to uncover not only how the hacking happened but also whether efforts were made to hide its scale.
This case highlights how digital services like those provided by KT, while convenient, can also create risks when proper safeguards are not in place. For now, the public waits for answers on how deep the problem runs and who will be held responsible.
