One in five South Korean public officials owns cryptocurrency

South Korean officials must now disclose cryptocurrency holdings as part of asset declarations, with high-ranking officials required to provide transaction histories.

One in five South Korean public officials has disclosed crypto holdings, with total assets valued at $9.8 million, according to a government ethics report.

One in five South Korean public officials has disclosed cryptocurrency holdings, according to a recent report by the Government Public Ethics Committee.

Of the 2,047 officials who submitted asset declarations for 2025, 411 reported owning digital assets, with their total holdings valued at 14.41 billion Korean won ($9.8 million).

Seoul City Councilor Kim Hye-young reported the largest holdings, declaring 1.7 billion Korean won ($1.2 million).

Her assets are spread across 16 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, and XRP. Her husband and eldest son also hold crypto assets.

The second-largest holder is fellow Seoul City Councilor Choi Min-gyu, with 1.6 billion Korean won ($1.09 million) in crypto, followed by Busan-Ulsan Expressway Co.

CEO Kim Ki-hwan, whose holdings total 1.4 billion Korean won ($955,031).

Public officials in South Korea have been required to disclose cryptocurrency holdings since January 2024. Those in higher-ranking positions must not only report their holdings but also provide transaction histories and details on how the assets were acquired.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.