South Korean Hyundai Offices Evacuated Over Bomb Threat, Bitcoin Ransom Demand: Report
Two Hyundai Group buildings in Seoul were evacuated after a bomb threat demanded 13 Bitcoin (about $1.1 million) in ransom. A caller warned police of planned explosions unless the ransom was paid and threatened additional violence. Authorities searched the buildings but found no explosives. This incident follows a recent series of bomb threats targeting major South Korean firms, including Samsung and a telecom company, with unclear links to Bitcoin ransom demands. Such threats are not new; previous incidents include a 2020 bomb threat in Japan and global threats in 2018, both connected to Bitcoin extortion. Physical attacks related to cryptocurrency have also increased in 2024, with numerous violent robberies and assaults across several countries tied to crypto theft and extortion.
