A Kyowon Group cyberattack has just been revealed, making the incident one of the latest breaches affecting South Korean companies in recent weeks. Amid ongoing investigations into breaches at companies such as KT, the country’s three major telecommunications firms, and Lotte Card, the Kyowon Group cyberattack has raised concerns due to the company’s extensive customer base across its many subsidiaries.
According to the latest updates on its website, Kyowon Group detected signs of an external intrusion on the morning of January 10. After identifying abnormal activity, the company immediately shut down parts of its internal systems and began emergency recovery measures. The incident was publicly acknowledged on January 11, when access to Kyowon Group’s main website and several affiliated sites became unavailable.
Systems Shut Down After the Kyowon Group Cyberattack
As of January 12, a service disruption notice was displayed across Kyowon Group and subsidiary websites, stating, “Web service is unavailable due to unexpected disruptions.” At that time, users were still unable to access online services, indicating the impact of the Kyowon Group cyberattack was ongoing.
A Kyowon Group representative confirmed the breach, stating, “We have confirmed indications of a breach,” while emphasizing that investigations were still underway. The representative added, “We are still investigating whether any personal information has been leaked.” The company also announced that it planned to release an official statement the following morning once more details were confirmed.
Multiple Affiliate Websites Go Offline as Recovery Efforts Continue
Further disclosures revealed that Kyowon Group believes the incident may be linked to ransomware activity. On Monday, the company said it had shut down parts of its internal network after detecting what it described as suspicious behavior consistent with a ransomware attack. Kyowon Group explained that abnormal activity was first identified at approximately 8 a.m. on Saturday, January 10, prompting immediate action to isolate affected systems and block external access.
Several websites operated by Kyowon Group affiliates remained inaccessible as of Monday. A notice on the Kyowon Tour website confirmed that the service was unavailable. These disruptions highlighted the broad operational impact of the Kyowon Group hacking incident, which affected multiple brands under the group’s umbrella.
Kyowon Group reported the suspected breach to the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) and relevant investigative authorities shortly after identifying the issue. The company said it is currently restoring systems while conducting comprehensive security checks to determine the scope of the intrusion.
Company Reports Incident to Authorities, Probes Possible Ransomware Involvement
“We are working with professional security personnel and related agencies to conduct a detailed investigation into the cause of the breach, the scope of its impact, and whether any data was affected, while carrying out recovery work,” Kyowon Group said in an official statement. The company also addressed concerns over customer data, stating, “We are also checking whether any personal information was leaked. If a leak is confirmed, we will promptly and transparently notify customers in accordance with relevant laws and procedures.”
Kyowon Group added that it plans to gradually restore access to its websites and related services as systems are secured. “We will mobilize all available resources to stabilize services and prioritize customer protection as we work toward full recovery,” the company said.
The cyberattack on Kyowon Group is particularly important given the group’s diverse business portfolio and large customer base. Kyowon Group operates education-focused brands such as Kyowon Kumon and Red Pen, which provide after-school learning materials. It also runs lifestyle and service-oriented businesses, including the Wells home appliance brand, Kyowon Life, a funeral service company, Kyowon Invest, Kyowon Travel, The Suites Hotel, and Kyowon Tour.