The South Korean conglomerate Kyowon Group is currently investigating a significant ransomware attack that has disrupted its operations and potentially compromised the personal information of millions of customers. After detecting suspicious activity on January 10, the company isolated its servers and reported the breach to the Korea Internet and Security Agency to begin a full forensic assessment.
Kyowon Group is a prominent fixture in South Korea's corporate sector with a vast portfolio that includes education, media, and technology services. Because the conglomerate serves a massive national audience through subsidiaries like Kyowon Kumon and Kyowon Life, the disruption has had a widespread impact on its digital infrastructure. The company first noticed the intrusion during the early morning hours and immediately triggered emergency protocols to prevent the malicious software from spreading further across its internal network.
The attackers reportedly gained access by exploiting an exposed external port, allowing them to move laterally through the company's systems and infect approximately 600 out of 800 total servers. This breach led to the shutdown of several affiliate websites and services as a precautionary measure while cybersecurity experts work to restore the affected databases. Early reports from local authorities suggest that as many as 9.6 million accounts may be within the scope of the breach, though the company is still verifying the exact nature of the leaked data.
In an official statement, Kyowon Group confirmed that they are working closely with external investigators to determine the full extent of the damage and the specific cause of the vulnerability. They have committed to transparently notifying all affected individuals if a data leak is confirmed, ensuring that protective measures are taken in line with national legal requirements. Despite the scale of the infiltration and subsequent extortion attempts, no specific ransomware collective has publicly claimed responsibility for the incident at this time.
This attack follows a concerning trend of large-scale cybersecurity incidents targeting major South Korean corporations over the past few years. High-profile breaches at companies such as Coupang and SK Telecom have previously exposed the data of tens of millions of users, highlighting the persistent threats facing the region's digital infrastructure. Kyowon Group now faces the dual challenge of restoring its essential business services while shoring up its defenses to prevent future unauthorized access.
Source: Ransomware Attack Disrupts Operations At South Korean Conglomerate Kyowon