Seoul National University reports 28 hacking incidents since 2021

Seoul National University (SNU) has reported 28 hacking incidents occurring since 2021, resulting in the exposure of approximately 1,132 personal data records belonging to students, faculty, and staff.

A major breach in 2021 accounted for 1,130 of the leaked records. In that instance, attackers installed malware on servers to execute remote commands and extract personal details, including names, email addresses, portal IDs, and employment information. Other incidents included a 2024 breach of an affiliated research institute server that leaked two records containing researcher biographies and resumes.

Data submitted to lawmaker Baek Seung-ah reveals that department systems were the most frequent entry point, accounting for 19 of the incidents. The university also noted a steady increase in attempted cyberattacks, with blocked attempts rising from 561 in 2024 to 588 in 2025. Lawmakers have called for an urgent review of the university’s security management to prevent the potential theft of major national research achievements.