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- Hyundai offices in Seoul received Bitcoin-linked bomb threats on Dec. 19.
- Police searched both sites and found no explosives.
- Similar threats have recently targeted several major Korean firms.
According to the report, Hyundai Group and Hyundai Motor Group faced bomb threat emails that demanded a payment of 13 Bitcoin. The message warned of explosions if the sender did not receive funds.
The threats reached offices in central and southern Seoul. The incident added to a growing list of similar cases that now concern authorities and businesses across South Korea. On the morning of Dec. 19, emergency services received a report about a threatening email.
The message targeted the Hyundai Group building in Yeonji-dong, Jongno District. It also named the Hyundai Motor Group headquarters in Yangjae-dong, Seocho District. The sender set a specific time and described a plan to move between locations.
Police reacted without delay. Special forces units moved to both buildings. Officers secured the areas and controlled access points. Search teams checked offices, parking areas, and nearby facilities. The operation aimed to protect workers and nearby residents. The search did not uncover any explosives.
Cybercrime Probe Targets Bitcoin Extortion Case
Organizations were allowed to function normally after conducting safety checks. However, the incident still affected their daily activities. Employees became concerned due to the incident. Police did further analyses on the email with the intention of tracing its source. They considered the incident a major threat that involved digital extortion.
The demand for 13 Bitcoins caught the attention of the cyber crime units. This is because criminals typically use cryptocurrencies to avoid tracing. The value indicated that the act is not random but the result of careful planning. The authorities analyzed the blockchain information and the communication records associated with the message.
In this case, it was seen that there are now points at which ‘real-world’ threat and cybercrime intersect. Those companies that tend to have an international reputation are at greater risk. Cyber attackers target victims in an attempt to capitalize on fear and the need for urgency. Even an ‘empty threat’ may lead to significant disruption and financial loss.
The government encouraged companies to improve their internal reporting mechanisms. In addition, they asked employees to presume any threat was genuine until they found otherwise. Law enforcers coordinated efforts to identify similarities in reported cases.
Series of Bomb Threats Target Major South Korean Firms
The Hyundai crisis came on the heels of threats issued to other large companies. The previous day, a posting threatened the head office of Samsung Electronics and its management. A message earlier in the week threatened a bomb at a KT office in Bundang.
Threats were also sent to facilities owned by Kakao and Naver. These incidents involved evacuations and searches by the police. Explosives were not found in these incidents. However, with so many incidents occurring, this contributed to worries among the public. Companies were forced to review security measures.
Police also believe that there could be one group or person behind all these threats. The government promised that it would take firm action against those who are behind these threats.
These threats bring to light the next challenge for corporate security. It also underlines the importance of combined efforts by corporations and the police. The police are investigating corporations are on high alert.
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