BTS’ Jungkook was among the high-profile South Koreans targeted by a hacking group whose alleged ringleader has now been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The Seoul Central District Court on Aug. 20 convicted the 37-year-old Chinese national, surnamed Chun, over his role in a hacking operation that targeted wealthy Koreans, including celebrities, business executives and virtual asset investors.

Jungkook became one of the victims of the scheme after his securities account was hacked in January 2024, shortly after he enlisted in the South Korean military.

The hackers allegedly stole 33,500 shares of HYBE, the entertainment company behind BTS. The shares were valued at around 8.4 billion won (about $6 million) at the time.

Jungkook, however, did not suffer an actual financial loss.

HYBE immediately took measures, including suspending payments, after discovering the suspicious activity.

Aside from Jungkook, the group allegedly targeted nine businesspeople, including chairmen and CEOs of major conglomerates, as well as three other celebrities and influencers.

According to the court, the hacking operation targeted wealthy South Koreans between August 2023 and January 2024. The group allegedly used illegally obtained personal information to open mobile phone lines in the victims’ names and gain access to their financial and virtual asset accounts.

The total amount involved was estimated at around 38 billion won ($27.47 million).

Chun was extradited from Thailand to South Korea in August 2025 after allegedly leading the operation from overseas.

The court found evidence linking him to the scheme, including phone numbers and conversations from multiple WeChat accounts, as well as information about targets found on an external hard drive.

The court described the case as a serious crime, noting the enormous amount involved and the fact that the victims had their assets taken without knowing they were being targeted.

Chun was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

For Jungkook, the case is another reminder of the unusual level of scrutiny and security that comes with being one of the world's biggest pop stars. Even while serving in the military, his personal and financial accounts remained targets for people looking to exploit his celebrity status.

Thankfully, the attempted theft of his HYBE shares did not result in an actual loss.

Escorted by the police, a Chinese national arrives at Incheon International Airport on Aug. 22 last year from Bangkok, Thailand (Korea's Ministry of Justice)

BTS' Jungkook (Instagram)