South Korean police have opened an investigation into Bithumb CEO for alleged bribery.

CoinFeed reported on June 11 that, according to The Block, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Crime Investigation Division has listed Bithumb CEO Lee Jae-won as a suspect in a bribery case linked to independent National Assembly member Kim Byung-kee. Police obtained a statement from a former assistant who alleged that in November 2024, Kim asked Lee to arrange jobs for his two sons at Bithumb. The sons joined the company two months later and worked there for approximately six months. Kim had also previously requested Bithumb hire one of his assistants, who has been working for the company since September 2025.