Seoul, South Korea – The South Korean government stated on March 6th that it has found no evidence of a breach of its Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) email systems, following an indictment by the United States Department of Justice against several Chinese nationals accused of hacking activities targeting, among others, Asian foreign ministries.
The announcement comes amidst heightened global concerns about cybersecurity and state-sponsored espionage. The US indictment alleges that employees of a Chinese information technology company, I-Soon, engaged in a widespread hacking campaign targeting dissidents, religious organizations, news outlets, and government agencies in the United States and across Asia.
As of now, we have not discovered any instance of external forces illegally infiltrating the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ email system, stated MOFA spokesperson Lee Jae-woong during a regular press briefing in Seoul. Lee was responding to a question regarding the alleged hacking of the ministry’s email systems, following the US Justice Department’s announcement.
The US indictment further alleges that former employees of I-Soon attempted to sell unauthorized access to multiple inboxes within the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs to China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS). This particular allegation has raised concerns within South Korea, prompting scrutiny of the ministry’s cybersecurity protocols.
While the South Korean government maintains that its email systems have not been compromised, the US indictment underscores the persistent threat of cyber espionage targeting diplomatic institutions. The incident serves as a reminder of the need for robust cybersecurity measures and international cooperation to combat malicious cyber activities.
The South Korean government has not yet released details of any internal investigations conducted in response to the US allegations. However, the ministry stated that it is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to enhance its cybersecurity defenses.
References:
- Yonhap News Agency. (2024, March 6). 韩政府：未发现外交部邮箱被黑客入侵 [South Korean Government: No Evidence of Hacking into Ministry of Foreign Affairs Email]. Retrieved from [Insert URL of Yonhap News Article Here – If Available]
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