Demand for 1 million won in cryptocurrency… Blackmail with patient photos at Gangnam plast

A patient at a large plastic surgery clinic in Seoul's Gangnam district received an extortion attempt after her pre- and post-procedure photos and consultation records were allegedly leaked, with the sender demanding 1 million won (roughly $700) worth of cryptocurrency in exchange for not publishing the images. The sender sent the photos—showing the patient's face and upper body—along with a consultation document containing her name and address to the patient's boyfriend, threatening to post them on social media within six days. The victim, a woman in her 30s who underwent surgery at the clinic in September, told KBS, which first reported the case on October 30, that she feared the images had already spread to acquaintances. The incident highlights growing concerns over personal data breaches at medical institutions and the use of cryptocurrency in extortion schemes, as digital assets allow attackers to receive untraceable payments. Authorities and the clinic have not yet confirmed how the data was leaked, and it remains unclear whether other patients' records were compromised. Watch for whether police identify the sender and whether the case prompts regulatory scrutiny of patient data handling at cosmetic surgery clinics.