Military Leaks in South Korea: Cyber Command Officer Accused of Handing Over Classified Info

South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense announced Monday that a classified information leak incident occurred at the Cyber Operations Command and is under investigation.

During a regular press briefing, the spokesperson Jeon Ha Kyu stated that relevant agencies are conducting a preliminary investigation.

According to officials, a non-commissioned officer from the National Cyber Command is accused of accepting bribes and handing over many internal documents containing military secrets to a hacker. The suspect recently surrendered, and the Defense Counterintelligence Command has taken over the investigation.

This incident follows a similar breach in August when a civilian employee leaked sensitive military information, including a list of covert operatives to China, causing significant concern within the defense community.

Sources indicate that the intelligence agency became aware of the situation on December 2. Just one day before President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law. It is reported that then-Intelligence Command Chief Yeo In Hyung briefed then-Secretary of Defense Kim Yong Hyun on the morning of December 3 regarding the details of the breach.