“Not only was money extorted, but even her family was threatened” Following Ha Jung-woo, Son Na-eun also falls victim to hacking
On February 12, YG Entertainment released an official statement addressing a serious security breach involving actress Son Na-eun. According to the agency, Son Na-eun’s personal phone was hacked, and the perpetrator unlawfully obtained private data.
The hacker then attempted to extort money in exchange for not disclosing the stolen information. Concerned about protecting her family and close acquaintances from potential harm, Son Na-eun complied with the demand once.
However, the hacker did not stop and continued making additional financial demands while escalating the threats. The situation has taken a significant emotional toll, not only on Son Na-eun but also on her family, as the hacker has contacted them directly.
YG Entertainment assured the public that the matter has already been reported to law enforcement and is currently under official police investigation. They emphasized their commitment to taking strong legal action against all forms of crime, including privacy violations and threats.
Below is the full official statement from YG Entertainment:
This is YG Entertainment. We are addressing a recent incident in which actress Son Na-eun’s personal phone was hacked.
The hacker unlawfully collected private data and demanded money in exchange for not disclosing it. In an effort to protect her family and acquaintances from harm, Son Na-eun complied with the demand once.
However, the hacker has since continued making additional monetary demands and threats. The situation has caused severe psychological distress to the actress and her family, as the hacker has even attempted direct contact with them.
AdvertisementThe case is currently under official police investigation. We affirm that we will take strong legal action against all criminal acts related to privacy violations and threats.
Lastly, as a formal investigation is ongoing, we respectfully request the media to refrain from reporting unverified information.
The entertainment industry has been facing a serious wave of hacking incidents, with Ha Jung-woo and Joo Jin-mo previously suffering significant damage.
In particular, Ha Jung-woo was blackmailed after his phone was hacked in late 2019, sending shockwaves through the industry. The hacker, who gained access to Ha Jung-woo’s photo album, contact list and private messages, threatened to leak the sensitive information online unless he paid 1.5 billion KRW. However, Ha Jung-woo remained calm, cooperated in conversation and gathered information before handing it over to the police, ultimately helping to apprehend the culprits.
The hackers were revealed to be a group of four individuals, two married couples, who were members of a Chinese hacker organization. Between late 2019 and early 2020, they hacked the phones of eight celebrities using a voice phishing scheme, extorting a total of 610 million KRW.