South Korean Hackers Steal Details of 8.7m Mobile Subscribers

Two South Korean computer programmers have been arrested on suspicion of hacking into the 16m-strong customer database of KT (Korea Telecom), the second largest operator in the country. The men are accused of stealing personal information – including names, telephone numbers, and residential registration numbers – of 8.7m subscribers.

The hacking took place over a series of months beginning in February – over this period of the time, the two hackers reportedly made upwards of 1bn Korean won (£560,000) by selling the information to telemarketers.

"We deeply bow our head in apology for having your precious personal information leaked," said a KT statement to its customers. “We'll try our best to make such things never happen again.”