South Korean police raided the offices of Bithumb as part of an investigation into alleged influence peddling by independent lawmaker Kim Byung-gi.
According to a report published by local outlet News1, Kim allegedly attempted to favor his son’s hiring at several companies in the crypto industry, including Bithumb and Dunamu, the operator of rival exchange Upbit. The lawmaker’s son joined Bithumb in January 2025 and worked there for approximately six months.
Authorities are investigating whether external pressure or preferential treatment played a role in the hiring process. The inquiry expanded after it emerged that Kim, while serving on the National Assembly’s Policy Affairs Committee with oversight of the country’s financial regulator, repeatedly directed questions at Dunamu during legislative sessions, raising suspicions of a possible conflict of interest tied to his son’s employment.
Kim was questioned in April on 13 separate charges, including bribery related to nominations and employment favors. During his sixth appearance before investigators, he declared that he was confident he would be exonerated. Police had already summoned exchange executives as witnesses in February and conducted a prior raid at the exchange’s main headquarters.
Source: https://www.news1.kr/society/incident-accident/6190486
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