Shinhan Card Says Employees Leaked Data of 190,000 Merchants
Shinhan Card reports a data leak affecting over 190,000 merchant operators, caused by internal employees seeking to boost sales performance. No sensitive financial data was compromised. Learn about the scope and the company's response.
South Korea’s reported on Tuesday a significant data breach involving more than of its partnered merchants, attributing the leak to employee misconduct rather than an external cyberattack. The company confirmed the incident didn't compromise sensitive financial data or the personal information of its general customer base.
What Was Compromised
According to , the leaked information includes the mobile phone numbers, names, and dates of birth of merchant representatives. The company was quick to reassure stakeholders that highly sensitive data—such as resident registration numbers, card numbers, or bank account information—was not exposed. The breach is confined strictly to merchant operator data.
An Inside Job Fueled by Performance Goals
The company stated the incident was linked to misconduct by employees aiming to boost their new card recruitment performance. At least employees from or more sales offices are believed to be involved. They allegedly provided the merchant data to card solicitors without proper marketing consent.
Response and Mitigation
Shinhan Card has reported the suspected breach to the country's Personal Information Protection Commission. The employees involved have been removed from their duties, and the company is considering filing criminal complaints. While no financial damage related to the leak has been identified so far, has pledged to actively compensate any victims should damages be reported.
This incident is a stark reminder for investors that cybersecurity risk isn't just about external hackers. Weak internal controls and high-pressure sales cultures can create significant operational risks, directly impacting corporate governance ratings and brand trust.
This content is AI-generated based on source articles. While we strive for accuracy, errors may occur. We recommend verifying with the original source.
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