Offices belonging to Hyundai Group and Hyundai Motor Group in Seoul were placed under emergency security protocols on December 19, 2025, after receiving bomb threat emails demanding a 13 BTC ransom to prevent explosions.
According to South Korean authorities, the threatening messages warned that explosives would detonate at the Hyundai Group headquarters in Jongno District and the Hyundai Motor Group office in Yangjae-dong if the Bitcoin demand was not met.
South Korea’s Hyundai Group and Hyundai Motor Group offices in Seoul received bomb threat emails demanding 13 BTC on Dec. 19, with the sender threatening further attacks if unpaid. Police deployed special forces and found no explosives; similar threats have recently targeted…
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) December 19, 2025
Police Searches Find No Explosives
Following the threats, police immediately deployed special forces, bomb disposal units, and emergency responders to both locations. After conducting full-scale searches of the buildings, authorities confirmed that no explosive devices were found.
Employees were temporarily affected as security operations unfolded, though normal operations later resumed once the all-clear was issued.
Part of a Broader Wave of Corporate Hoaxes
Investigators believe the Hyundai threats are part of a recent wave of similar hoax bomb threats targeting major South Korean corporations. In recent weeks, Samsung Electronics, KT, Kakao, and Naver have all received comparable threats, often delivered via email or posted on online customer service boards.
While none of the threats have proven credible, they have caused significant disruption, including temporary evacuations, remote work mandates, and large-scale police deployments.
Investigation Ongoing, Criminal Charges Expected
Police suspect that the perpetrator or perpetrators may be using stolen identities and overseas servers to obscure their location and avoid detection. Authorities are actively tracing the origin of the messages.
South Korean law allows for criminal penalties of up to five years in prison or fines of up to 20 million won for public intimidation. Officials also stated they intend to pursue civil damages to recover the substantial costs associated with emergency responses once those responsible are identified.
