Chinese hacking group attacks 12 Korean agencies over Lunar New Year

A Chinese hacking group attacked the websites of twelve state-run Korean agencies over the Lunar New Year holiday, according to Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) Monday, after the group threatened to target over 2,000 government agencies.

A web page attacked by a Chinese hacking group [SCREEN CAPTURE]

A Chinese hacking group attacked the websites of twelve state-run Korean agencies over the Lunar New Year holiday, according to Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) Wednesday, after the group threatened to target over 2,000 government agencies.

The affected associations include the Korean Research Institute for Construction Policy, The Korean Archaeological Society, Woorimal academic society and the Korean Academy of Basic Medicine & Health Science.

Some of the websites that were attacked show a generic error page while others show a message presumably devised by the hacking group.

On the Korean Academy of Basic Medicine & Health Science's site, the group identified themselves with Chinses characters reading “Xiaoqiying,” declaring that they have invaded "Korean internet."

Local media outlets have since reported that the group is actually Teng Snake, which targeted government bodies last year.

The group warned that their next target will be KISA, prompting the Ministry of Science and ICT to convene a series of emergency meetings over the holiday.

BY PARK EUN-JEE [park.eunjee@joongang.co.kr]