US Firm Accuses Chinese Entities of AI Attacks on Korean Banks; China Responds

On October 6, 2026, Fast Company reported that at least seven South Korean financial institutions had been hacked with the assistance of an AI agent. Personal information belonging to about 68,000 people was stolen, including annual income and loan limits. The report described the incident as one of the first times AI tools have been used to disrupt major financial institutions, and it did not attribute the attack.

Two days later, on October 8, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning took up the matter at a routine press briefing. A reporter asked about a US cybersecurity company's allegation that Chinese-related organizations had used AI tools to attack South Korean financial institutions. Mao said she was not aware of the specific situation raised. As a matter of principle, she said, China consistently opposes hacking and cracks down on it in accordance with the law, and it opposes the spreading of disinformation for political purposes. She added that AI has a profound impact on cybersecurity, and that the international community should strengthen cooperation and dialogue and set new international rules to jointly safeguard cybersecurity.

So far the public record covers two separate things: the attack itself, as reported by Fast Company, involving at least seven South Korean financial firms and the data of roughly 68,000 people, and the accusation by a US cybersecurity company. Mao's remarks did not confirm any of its specifics. The Fast Company report did not say who was behind the attack, and the materials do not include the details or evidence supporting the US company's allegation.