- South Korean lawmaker Kim Nam-kuk allegedly withdrew 800,000 WEMIX tokens, sparking controversy.
- Financial Intelligence Unit reported transactions to prosecutor’s office, citing suspicious activity.
- WEMIX was delisted from major exchanges for alleged inaccurate circulation supply figures.
South Korean lawmaker Rep. Kim Nam-kuk is facing public scrutiny and outrage over his alleged withdrawal of 800,000 WEMIX tokens, worth 6 billion won ($4.5 million) from January to February 2022.
The Financial Services Commission’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) deemed the transactions suspicious and reported them to local prosecutors, as per CoinDesk Korea.
This controversy coincides with the recent implementation of the FATF’s travel rule in South Korea, which mandates that exchanges collect personal data on transactions exceeding a specific threshold and report them to authorities.
Despite the allegations, Rep. Kim claims he did not cash out his tokens and has not broken any laws, as virtual assets are not subject to reporting requirements under South Korea’s Public Service Ethics Act.
Adding to the controversy, WEMIX, the cryptocurrency in question, was delisted from major South Korean exchanges last year due to accusations of inaccurate circulation supply figures. The issuing company, WeMade, unsuccessfully contested the delisting in court.
Amidst ongoing challenges faced by the cryptocurrency sector, this incident underscores the importance of trust and accountability in the political realm.
As the crypto space continues to develop, it is crucial for the public to remain vigilant and demand ethical conduct from elected officials, ensuring a brighter future for the industry as it navigates potential hurdles.
