 |
Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Ellie Kim] SEOUL, South Korea — April 20, 2026 — The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) announced today that it has formally booked three individuals as suspects in connection with allegations that LG Uplus intentionally destroyed servers to conceal evidence following a major personal information leak.
During a regular press briefing held at the SMPA headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Commissioner Park Jeong-bo stated, "We have booked three suspects and are currently conducting an investigation. We are in the process of analyzing seized materials and will proceed with the investigation according to legal protocols."
The SMPA’s Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Division previously conducted a search and seizure on March 20 at the LG Uplus Magok office in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Investigators secured critical evidence, including server and system data, as well as documents related to the reinstallation of operating systems (OS).
This investigation follows a formal request from the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) late last year. In July 2023, the Ministry received a whistleblower report claiming that account management system (APPM) information and approximately 40,000 accounts had been leaked. Following the report, the Ministry requested that LG Uplus conduct an internal audit.
While LG Uplus initially notified the Ministry on August 13 that there were "no signs of a security breach," it was later discovered that the company physically disposed of one of its two APPM servers just ten days after being notified of the hacking allegations.
Updates on Other High-Profile Investigations
Commissioner Park also addressed several other ongoing investigations, signaling that conclusions are imminent for cases involving high-ranking officials and major corporations.
Assemblyman Kim Byung-ki: Regarding the 13 allegations of misconduct involving Independent lawmaker Kim Byung-ki and his family, Park noted that while legal reviews have caused delays, the police expect to reach a conclusion on several charges shortly. "We will consider securing custody after the legal review is finalized," Park added.
NACF Chairman Kang Ho-dong: The investigation into Kang Ho-dong, Chairman of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, over allegations of embezzlement and bribery, is also nearing its end. Park acknowledged difficulties faced by the investigative team but expected a conclusion in the near future.
Coupang Data Breach: Regarding allegations of data leaks and perjury involving Coupang, the police are reviewing whether to refer certain charges for prosecution. However, the Commissioner noted challenges in securing the custody of a key suspect—a former employee of Chinese nationality—stating, "While we are requesting the individual's appearance for trial, securing an extradition has proven difficult."
Alphabiz Ellie Kim 인턴기자(press@alphabiz.co.kr)
