South Korean university cyberattacks

Cybersecurity incidents have been reported at major South Korean academic institutions involving the theft of personal data.

Seoul National University reported 28 hacking incidents since 2021, which resulted in the exposure of approximately 1,132 personal records. A significant breach in 2021 involved malware that allowed attackers to extract names, email addresses, and employment information. Data indicated that department systems were the most frequent entry points for these attacks.

In a separate incident, Yonsei University experienced a cyberattack on its online portal that compromised the personal information of approximately 10,000 students, graduates, and faculty members. The breach included names, identification numbers, mobile phone numbers, and passwords. While the university blocked the initial source of the attack, a second attempt was recorded from a different IP address. The university has reported the matter to the Personal Information Protection Commission and is conducting a security review.