South Korean health agencies face surge in hacking attempts

Hacking attempts targeting South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare and its affiliated agencies have surged significantly. Data released by Representative Heo Jong-sik shows that hacking attempts against the Ministry of Health and Welfare reached 11,568 cases through July this year, surpassing the combined total of the previous three years.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) experienced an even more dramatic increase, with hacking attempts rising from just 14 cases in 2022 to 17,742 cases by July this year. Across five major health and welfare institutions, total attempts jumped 608.5% from 4,576 in 2022 to 32,423 in 2024.

Most attempts against the Ministry, KDCA, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety were aimed at information theft or collection. While no actual damage has been reported, the majority of unauthorized access originated from the United States, China, Germany, and India. Lawmakers are calling for a comprehensive review of security systems to protect sensitive public health data.