<Anchor>



Prosecutors investigating allegations of embezzlement of Bithumb affiliates, a virtual currency exchange, investigated Kang Jong-hyun, who is known as the actual owner of Bithumb, for the second time.

Mr. Kang, who had been putting off his attendance every day, denied the allegations related to him when he appeared at the prosecutor's office today (20th).



This is Reporter Lee Tae-kwon.



<Reporter>



Mr. Kang Jong-hyun, the actual owner of the virtual currency exchange Bithumb, has been delaying his attendance schedule for three days in a row, citing panic disorder and corona aftereffects.



He showed up at the prosecutor's office today as news came that he would seek an arrest warrant.



[Kang Jong-hyun/Businessman: (I have suspicions about the actual owner of (Bithumb). Is there anything you want to say?) Yes, I will faithfully participate (in the investigation).]



Mr. Kang also denied other suspicions surrounding him.



[Kang Jong-hyun/Businessman: (There is a saying that company money was used for borrowed-name transactions and CBs (convertible bonds). Is that true?) There is no such thing.]



Mr. Kang is the stock price of Bithumb related companies such as Vident, Inbiogen, and Bucket Studio. are accused of being centrally involved in manipulating



These affiliates have issued convertible bonds worth KRW 780 billion since August 2020, when Mr. Kang's younger sister took office as CEO, and by the time the conversion rights were exercised, suspicions arose that they had increased stock prices by leaking false information of good news to the market. .



Prosecutors suspect that Kang also traded convertible bonds under borrowed names to avoid disclosure obligations.



The National Tax Service also launched a special tax investigation on Vident and Inbiogen from December of last year, and on the 10th, Bithumb Korea and Bithumb Holdings were also included in the investigation.



Mr. Kang's side did not respond to calls and text messages from reporters asking about the transaction of borrowed-name convertible bonds and the suspicion of stock price manipulation.



(Video coverage: Choi Jun-shik, video editing: Park Chun-bae, CG: Park So-yeon)