South KoreaThe U.K. Justice Ministry has hit out at claims that minister Han Dong-hoon “refused to disclose information” about whether he owns crypto.
according to media outlets newsisThe ministry claimed that “the cryptoasset holding status of public officials dealing with cryptoassets [regulation]”Checked regularly.”
The ministry claimed that it conducted bi-annual checks on “all public officials belonging to the Ministry of Justice”, including “ministers and deputy ministers”.
It added that it had started investigating officers in this way in 2021.
And it said its most recent investigation was carried out in January this year.
In the latest investigation, the ministry claimed that “the public officials did not have any virtual assets [who work with crypto regulation],
Owners of Crypto Matter to Lawmakers Be a political hot potato in South Korea this month,
The uproar has started following allegations from MP Kim Nam-kook, who serves on the policy-making committee. Crypto sold in anticipation of the adoption of the travel rule by the National Assembly,
This, some have alleged, may constitute insider trading.
But political mud-slinging has further complicated the matter.
South Korean lawmakers wade into crypto debate
Kim has recently resigned from the Democratic Party, the party with the most seats in the National Assembly.
Some believe that the ruling People’s Power Party (PPP) has tried to capitalize on this.
The PPP has claimed that issues related to corruption are endemic to the Democratic Party.
And the latter has countered.
Democratic Party lawmaker Park Chan-dae claimed this week that Minister Han “refused to disclose whether he has cryptocurrency,” claiming that the information was “private and personal information.”
Park claimed that the question of whether or not Han had cryptanalysts should be resolved publicly.
Park said his “refusal” to comment on the matter was unacceptable.
The People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, a left-leaning NGO, said it had approached the ministry on 8 May.
The NGO said that it had sent a request for clarity on the matter of crypto ownership to the ministry.
But the group said the “Ministry of Justice” had responded by “notifying” the NGO that it maintains a “non-disclosure” policy.