Companies in South Korea and Japan are racing to strengthen cybersecurity defenses as experts warn that artificial intelligence is making some forms of cybercrime easier to execute.
Recent incidents have affected banks, retailers and major companies across both countries.
Attackers need less technical expertise
Cybersecurity specialists say AI can automate tasks such as scanning for vulnerabilities, creating phishing messages and adapting malicious code.
South Korean banks and Japanese companies including SoftBank and Lawson have recently investigated attacks or breaches.
Regulators in both countries are increasing assessments and warnings as AI-assisted attacks become more frequent and harder to detect.
Sources
- National cybersecurity and company disclosures in Japan and South Korea
- Reuters, Oct. 9, 2026
