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Trade ministry affiliates report over 10,000 hacking attempts since 2013

By Yonhap

Published : Oct. 18, 2017 - 09:22

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The trade ministry's affiliates came under more than 10,000 hacking attempts over the last five years, with the key trade promotion agency subjected to the heaviest attack, the ministry said Wednesday.

A report from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy submitted to Rep. Lee Chae-ik for parliamentary audits showed there were 11,525 hacking attempts from 2013 to September this year. The yearly number for 2017 is either on the decline or has stayed nearly the same, from 3,058 in 2013 to 2,064 in 2014, 2,143 in 2015 and 2,610 last year. There have been 1,650 attempts this year through September.

(Yonhap) (Yonhap)


Most of the cases occurred locally with 6,127. Another 1,680 were reported in the United States, 1,470 in China and 1,415 in Europe, according to the ministry.

The Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency, one of the central affiliates of the ministry, was attacked the most with 1,147 cases over the years. The number for the agency increased from 116 in 2013 to 224 in 2015 and to 337 last year. There were 301 cases reported this year as of September.

Hackers tried to pry open casino operator Kangwon Land 942 times during the period, Korea Gas Corp. 788 times, the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. 735 times and the Korea Testing Laboratory 692 times. 

KEPCO KPS, which is responsible for maintenance of the country's power facilities, came under 674 hacking attempts.

More than half of the attacks (6,127 cases) were through malicious codes. There were also 3,656 attacks on websites, the ministry said. (Yonhap)