A South Korean investigation into soldiers allegedly using military passwords as collateral for loans to buy cryptocurrency has uncovered 29 more instances of compromised military secrets.
Among these breaches is a notable case involving a captain who transmitted confidential information about the “wartime missions of a special forces brigade” in exchange for cryptocurrency valued at approximately 48 million won (around $35,700).
Military Secrets Exchanged for Cryptocurrency
Prosecutors believe that at least three active-duty soldiers have recently provided “level 3” military passwords and sensitive documents to loan sharks, either to invest in cryptocurrency or to settle debts from previous investments. Earlier this month, the Ministry of National Defense announced that a court had given one captain a suspended prison sentence and discharged him from the military.
Additional soldiers are suspected of similar activities, prompting prosecutors to indict three loan sharks for accepting military secrets in exchange for illegal cash loans.
Legislative Response and Data Findings
The controversy has prompted lawmakers to take action. Kang Dae-sik, a member of the National Assembly Defense Committee from the ruling People’s Power Party, gathered data from the ministry, revealing that military personnel have leaked secrets on 29 occasions since 2021.
The ministry’s report shows that there were six breaches in 2021, followed by eight in both 2022 and 2023, with an additional seven cases reported through July 2024.
One of the 2021 incidents involved a captain who exchanged military secrets for money, while another captain took photos of a Korean Joint Command and Control System terminal and sent them via the Telegram app to an unidentified recipient.
Additional Breaches Highlight Security Lapses
The findings also highlight instances of senior soldiers selling sensitive data to private defense firms, as well as a case where a soldier sold copies of a top-secret military manual. Many of these breaches have been attributed to a “lax attitude” towards security. In one incident, a soldier sent videos of classified military equipment to his girlfriend through the KakaoTalk app, claiming he simply wanted to share his daily life in the army.