[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] Seoul, South Korea – April 22, 2025 – Two former IT staff members of South Korean law firm Lee & Ko have been arrested on charges of insider trading after allegedly using confidential information obtained through unauthorized access to internal communications.


According to the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office, the individuals hacked into a lawyer’s email account in 2023 to obtain non-public information regarding a planned tender offer involving Hankook & Company. Using this information, they purchased shares and earned illicit profits amounting to several billion Korean won.


The Financial Services Commission’s Securities and Futures Commission filed a criminal complaint earlier this year, prompting an official investigation. The suspects were formally detained on April 15.


Prosecutors also suspect the possible involvement of a Lee & Ko attorney. As part of the investigation, prosecutors executed a search and seizure of the law firm’s Seoul office last month.


This case marks one of the most high-profile insider trading incidents in recent years and raises concerns over cybersecurity and information control practices within major legal institutions.

 

 

 

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