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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] SEOUL, October 26, 2025 — South Korean police have revealed that a majority of the core components used in illegal telecommunications equipment involved in the recent KT unauthorized micro-payment fraud case were manufactured in China.
According to police officials, two Chinese nationals in their 40s — identified only as A and B — were arrested and indicted on October 14 for their alleged role in operating unauthorized network devices to facilitate fraudulent mobile payments. Authorities confirmed that 27 network devices seized from the suspects were largely composed of Chinese-made parts.
Investigators said the confiscated devices — stored across two boxes roughly the size of ramen cartons — formed a complete operational set. Among them were key components used to emulate the functions of illegal miniature base stations (femtocells), a crucial element of the hacking operation.
Police believe it is unlikely that the suspects manufactured the devices themselves, suggesting instead that the equipment was likely procured through Chinese telecom supply channels and later modified for illicit use. Importantly, none of the seized devices appeared to include any femtocell components originally used by KT Corp., according to the investigation.
During the forensic review, authorities also uncovered additional cell IDs beyond the four already linked to the case, raising the possibility that other illegal network devices — referred to as “second and third sets” — may still be in operation. The police said the investigation remains ongoing to determine the scope of the network and potential cross-border connections.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
