Government24 hack exposes memory dump files from 11 servers
An attack targeting a vulnerable page on Government24’s children’s portal on August 17 resulted in the theft of memory dump files from 11 servers. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety estimated that 36 resident registration numbers, three phone numbers, and 55 IDs and passwords may have been exposed, but could not identify the victims or the precise scope of the leak because the attacker erased traces of the intrusion. The incident notice was hidden after 30 days and deleted following media coverage.
Key facts
- Affected organization
- Ministry of the Interior and Safety
- Incident type
- Data breach
- Occurred / detected
- 2026-08-17
- Scale of damage
- Memory dump files stolen from 11 servers; an estimated 36 resident registration numbers, three phone numbers, and 55 IDs and passwords exposed
- Cause / method
- Hacking targeting a vulnerable page on Government24’s children’s portal
- Location
- South Korea
If your data was exposed
Exposed dataNational ID numberPhone numberUsernamePassword
- Change your password, and also change it on any other site where you use the same one. Turn on two-factor authentication if available.
- Don’t tap links in texts, calls or emails that mention this incident and offer compensation, refunds or breach checks. Check directly on the organization’s official website or app.
- Block new mobile phone activations in your name, and register with the Financial Supervisory Service as a person whose personal data was exposed to strengthen identity checks on financial transactions in your name. If a copy of your ID was leaked, consider having it reissued.Identity theft prevention service (M-Safer) ↗Personal data exposure accident prevention system ↗
- If you’ve suffered harm, report it. Call 118 (no area code) for privacy violations, contact the police for financial losses, and apply for dispute mediation to seek compensation.Personal Information Infringement Report Center ↗Korean National Police Agency cybercrime report ↗Personal Information Dispute Mediation Committee ↗
Timeline
- An attack targeting Government24’s children’s portal resulted in the theft of memory dump files from 11 servers.
- The deletion of the Government24 hacking incident notice was raised during a parliamentary audit, and Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung said the action complied with regulations.
- It emerged that the victims and the scope of the leaked information could not be determined because the attacker had erased traces of the intrusion.
- The Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s estimate that 36 resident registration numbers, three phone numbers, and 55 IDs and passwords had been exposed was disclosed.
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The summary and key facts are written by AI from related reports and may contain errors. Check the original articles and the organization’s official statements for accurate details.