Police Question Former Upbit Operator CEO Over Alleged Job Solicitation for Lawmaker Kim Byung-ki’s Second Son

[Financial News] Police investigating allegations that the second son of independent lawmaker Kim Byung-ki sought help to get a job at a virtual asset exchange have questioned the former chief executive of Dunamu, the operator of Upbit.
According to Financial News reporting on the 4th, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Major Crime Investigation Unit for Public Crimes summoned former Dunamu CEO Lee Seok-woo as a witness at 10 a.m. that day and questioned him for about an hour.
Police are said to have asked Lee whether there was any request for employment for Kim’s second son during a meal with the lawmaker, and what was discussed at the time. Kim is suspected of having arranged the meal with Lee to ask Dunamu to hire his son, and the son is also reported to have been present.
There are also allegations that, after Dunamu declined the request, Kim’s side pushed to prepare a parliamentary question highlighting Dunamu’s alleged monopoly position. In February last year, Kim raised concerns about monopoly issues involving a specific exchange at a full session of the National Policy Committee of the National Assembly.
Police are examining whether Kim asked virtual asset exchanges such as Bithumb and Dunamu to hire his second son, and whether there were any illegalities in the overall recruitment process. Kim’s son is known to have joined Bithumb in January last year and worked there for about six months.
On the 3rd, the day before, police questioned a Bithumb executive as a witness, and they plan to summon another Bithumb official for additional questioning on the 4th.
425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seung-han Reporter