South Korea

'속 빈 강정' 된 AI 웹사이트…'보안 구멍'에 자금 탈취 위험 경고

ZD Net Korea | Local Language | News | Jan. 15, 2026 | Cyber Attacks and Data Loss

Numerous security vulnerabilities have been identified in websites created using major AI code-generation tools such as Anthropic and OpenAI. After examining applications developed through AI coding platforms including Replit, Cursor, and Devin, it was found many lacked essential security features like data protection, user authentication, and input validation. Some vulnerabilities allowed attackers potential access to internal system data or the exploitation of payment logic to illicitly move funds.

These security issues stem from the fundamental operation of AI code-generation tools, which produce code based on probabilistic analysis of large datasets without fully understanding the specific security context or threat models of the systems they generate for. Despite rapid growth and increasing use, AI-generated code often does not incorporate comprehensive security measures.

While AI coding tools lower barriers to development and are widely acknowledged for their convenience, the industry stresses the need to guard against inherent structural risks in deploying AI-generated outputs. Companies like Anthropic are introducing immediate post-generation vulnerability checks, but experts caution these measures are insufficient. A seemingly perfect AI-generated website may still harbor minor flaws capable of causing significant data breaches, underscoring that AI cannot assume full responsibility for security.

버려진 자석에서 값비싼 희토류 뽑아낸다…고려아연의 ‘신연금술’

Maekyung | Local Language | News | Jan. 15, 2026 | UndeterminedTech Development/Adoption

Korea Zinc has formed a strategic partnership with U.S.-based Alta Resources Technologies to extract rare earth oxides from discarded permanent magnets through an urban mining operation in the United States. The joint venture will operate on Korea Zinc’s U.S. subsidiary PedalPoint’s existing electronic waste recycling sites in cities like Chicago, Atlanta, and Las Vegas. The project is set to begin commercial production in 2027, targeting an initial output of 100 tons per year of high-purity rare earth elements such as neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium needed for electric vehicles, wind power, and defense sectors.

This collaboration aims to diversify and secure the rare earth supply chain, which is currently over 90% dependent on China’s refining capacity, by establishing a domestic rare earth oxide production system in the U.S. Alta Resources brings "precision mining" biochemical technologies capable of separating and refining low-concentration rare earths from complex waste materials. The urban mining approach allows Korea Zinc to recover valuable rare earth metals from electronic waste and permanent magnets without the large investments and environmental risks typical of traditional mine development.

The project aligns with Korea Zinc chairman Choi Yoon-beom’s "Troika Drive" growth strategy, which focuses on renewable energy, secondary battery materials, and resource circulation. Expanding the resource circulation business to include rare earth elements complements Korea Zinc’s existing metal recovery operations and supports the company’s role as a trusted supplier to advanced technology manufacturers in both Korea and the U.S. The initiative also contributes to building a critical minerals hub in North America, reinforcing economic security amid global supply chain challenges.

Joongang Ilbo | English | News | Jan. 15, 2026 | Cyber Attacks and Data Loss

Korean cybersecurity authorities estimate that approximately 9.6 million user accounts may have been affected by a recent cyberattack on Kyowon Group, a local education service provider. The company reported detecting traces of a ransomware attack and possible data breach after noticing abnormal activities in its internal system on Saturday.

Authorities estimate that 600 out of Kyowon’s 800 servers were impacted by the breach. The group’s eight affiliates collectively hold around 13 million members, which reduces to 5.54 million after removing overlapping accounts. The 9.6 million figure includes users with multiple accounts. Kyowon operates across various sectors including tutoring, home appliance rentals, and funeral services, suggesting the potential scale of affected individuals could be significant.

Kyowon Group has not yet confirmed whether personal data was actually leaked. The company stated that investigations are ongoing with relevant organizations to determine if customer data was compromised, and has pledged to notify users transparently if a leak is confirmed.