Daily Briefing is a curated listicle made available by The Readable. We select a handful of significant stories worth sharing with our readers and present them in an easy-to-read, accessible format.
Cyber threats and leadership shifts are drawing attention across key sectors. In South Korea, a ransomware attack has disrupted services at the country’s largest online bookstore, while a major security firm has named a new CEO amid industry scrutiny. In the U.S., authorities say Chinese state-backed hackers likely infiltrated critical internet and data infrastructure, raising renewed concerns about national cyber defense. Here’s what you need to know today.
1. South Korea’s leading online bookstore hit by ransomware – Yonhap
YES24, one of South Korea’s largest online bookstores, has reportedly fallen victim to a ransomware attack that disrupted its digital services for two consecutive days. The breach, which rendered the company’s website and mobile applications inaccessible since early morning on June 9, has left users unable to browse books, place orders, track shipments, or access the platform’s popular ticket reservation services.
The nature of the attack was not initially disclosed by the company itself; rather, it came to light on June 10 through Representative Choi Soo-jin, a member of the National Assembly’s Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee, who revealed that YES24 had reported the cyberattack to the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) the previous day.
According to materials submitted to Rep. Choi by KISA, the attackers encrypted sensitive internal data, including user information, and are now demanding a ransom in exchange for decryption. Despite this, YES24 has not granted KISA the necessary technical access to investigate the breach, limiting the agency’s ability to analyze the scope of the damage or assist in recovery. It remains unclear whether the company met its legal obligation to report the cyberattack within 24 hours to the relevant authorities. As the platform remains partially paralyzed, public concern is mounting over the protection of personal data and the transparency of corporate responses to cybersecurity threats.
Founded in 1999, YES24 was South Korea’s first online bookstore and has since grown into a major digital content and e-commerce platform. It offers a wide range of products and services including books, music, DVDs, and event ticketing, serving millions of customers domestically.
2. South Korea’s SK Shieldus names new CEO amid leadership shakeup and broader telecom scrutiny – The Readable
South Korean security giant SK Shieldus has announced the appointment of Min Ki-sik, a veteran executive in the insurance and finance sectors, as its next CEO. Min, who previously served as CEO of Prudential Life Korea and DGB Life, is expected to formally assume the role following board approval at the end of June. Over a career spanning more than 30 years, he has built a reputation for leading digital innovation, stabilizing organizations during periods of change, and expanding into overseas markets, such as Indonesia and Vietnam, during his tenure as Vice Chairman of KB Life.
SK Shieldus is one of South Korea’s largest integrated security companies, offering services across physical, information, and converged security domains. With over 2 trillion won (roughly $1.5 billion) in annual revenue, it supports sectors from consumer home security to industrial and government protection. The company is currently focused on enhancing its intelligent threat response systems, driving digital transformation, and expanding globally — strategic goals that align with Min’s leadership strengths.
The appointment comes following the unexpected resignation of former CEO Hong Won-pyo, who announced his departure in late April—months ahead of his term’s scheduled end in August. SK Shieldus, a subsidiary of the SK Group which also includes SK Telecom, emphasized that the decision was due to personal reasons and not connected to the ongoing security-related controversies surrounding SK Telecom. The company added that no major organizational or strategic changes would follow the leadership change.
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3. US agencies assessed Chinese telecom hackers likely hit data center and residential internet providers – Nextgov/FCW
U.S. cybersecurity agencies have identified Comcast and Digital Realty as likely victims of Salt Typhoon, a Chinese state-linked hacking group behind a years-long global espionage campaign targeting telecom and infrastructure providers. The National Security Agency (NSA) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) made the assessments, though the companies have not publicly confirmed the breaches. Legal and internal barriers have complicated investigations, reportedly leading some telecom firms to be instructed not to search for evidence of compromise.
Salt Typhoon exploited long-known software vulnerabilities to infiltrate targets, raising concerns about poor maintenance of critical infrastructure. Its access to data centers like those operated by Digital Realty could allow for deep surveillance of internal communications, posing serious national security risks. Experts warn that the group may still have persistent access to U.S. networks.
Lawmakers and security officials have called for stronger cyber defenses and renewed oversight, criticizing the fragmented government response and budget cuts to agencies like CISA. The breach is viewed as one of the most serious cyber intrusions by a nation-state in U.S. history.
Editor’s note: Each item in this briefing was initially summarized or translated by ChatGPT-4o based on the author’s specific instructions, which included news judgment, fact-checking, and thorough editing before publication.
