Hyundai Group initiated an emergency evacuation of employees from its major offices in Seoul following a bomb threat email that demanded payment in bitcoin. The situation unfolded when authorities received a call at approximately 11:42 a.m., relaying the contents of the threatening email sent to Hyundai. The message claimed that an explosive device was set to detonate at the company’s building in Yeonji-dong, Jongno-gu, at 11:30 a.m. Furthermore, it threatened to take a second bomb to Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu, where a significant office of Hyundai Motor Group is located. The sender demanded a ransom of 13 bitcoins, equating to roughly $1.1 million or 16.4 billion won based on current bitcoin prices.
The message from the caller was alarming, stating, “If you don’t give me 13 Bitcoins, I will blow up the Hyundai Group building at 11:30 a.m. and then take a bomb to Yangjae-dong and detonate it.” Upon receiving the threat, Hyundai Group swiftly evacuated staff from both targeted sites. Authorities quickly responded by dispatching special forces and bomb squads to search the buildings. Portions of the surrounding areas were sealed off during the thorough inspections, which ultimately found no explosive devices at either location.
After several hours of investigation, officials declared the threat to be a hoax and operations at both buildings resumed as normal. Police confirmed that no payment was made in response to the threat and that no injuries or property damage occurred as a result of the incident.
This alarming event is part of a troubling trend involving threats of extortion targeting major South Korean corporations. Just days before the Hyundai incident, similar postings surfaced on Kakao’s customer service bulletin board, alleging that explosives had been planted at various facilities including Samsung Electronics’ headquarters in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, and Kakao’s offices in Pangyo, as well as Naver facilities. These messages also included demands for substantial cash payments.
On December 17, another bomb threat was lodged through KT’s online subscription application system, claiming the presence of an explosive device at its office in Bundang, Seongnam. Law enforcement responded by evacuating the building and conducted thorough searches, only to find no explosives.
Authorities believe that these incidents represent a pattern of digital extortion attempts that leverage fear rather than real threats. Investigations are currently underway to track down the individuals behind these alarming threats and to trace the origins of the messages, as local police continue their efforts to address this growing concern.
