2 South Koreans arrested over cellphone hacking

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean police say they have arrested two men who allegedly stole the personal information of about 8 million cellphone customers in one of the country's biggest hacking schemes.

Police said in a statement Sunday that the two men developed a hacking program and stole the names, residential registration numbers and phone contract details of customers of mobile carrier KT Corp.

Police said the two made about $877,000 by selling the information to telemarketing companies which subsequently used the details to contact customers to solicit them to switch to other mobile operators.

They said seven other people who allegedly bought and distributed the hacking program and the stolen personal data have also been booked without physical detention.

KT Corp. wasn't immediately available for comment Sunday.