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According to new reports, officials in South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service have been accused of insider trading ahead of announcements on cryptocurrency regulation.
In the wake of shockwaves sent through the cryptocurrency community due to a pre-emptive announcement made by South Korea’s Ministry of Justice with regards to forthcoming cryptocurrency regulation, several government officials have now been accused of insider trading.
According to media house Chosun, officials from South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service who were aware of imminent announcements regarding either a total ban or the imposition of regulation reportedly bought and sold cryptocurrency prior to the full release of relevant information to the public.
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Financial Supervisory Service chief Choi Hyung-sik confirmed the news, stating that “We have confirmed the intelligence… We have confirmed that some public officials have done such an act”.
Despite this, however, justice might be difficult to serve – a Financial Supervisory Service official commented that “There is no code of ethics and no code of conduct for virtual currency investment in FSS regulations, so it’s difficult to say about punishment at this stage.”
In this light, should officials be prosecuted, those who engaged in ‘insider trading’ may instead be accused of “the misuse of internal information.”
Friction
The news comes after a mass petition circulated to some 200,000 signatories earlier this week, which demanded that South Korea’s government immediately reverse restrictions on cryptocurrency trading and fire several high-profile ministers within thirty days.
Reportedly, Minister of Justice Park Sang-ki’s controversial statement – which offered that a total ban on cryptocurrencies was forthcoming – was issued without the consent of the Ministry of Strategy and Justice as well as other government agencies involved in the South Korean cryptocurrency regulation task force.
In an earlier statement, a spokesperson from the task force offered that South Korea would follow regulatory paradigms set into place by other regions, stating that “The South Korean government has no other choice but to follow the regulatory frameworks and trends established by other leading governments. While there certainly exists a negative reputation attached to the cryptocurrencies, the government’s stance is to allow what has to be allowed, for the benefit of the South Korean market.”
A recent report claims that representatives from the Korean Financial Services Commission have met with representatives from both Japan and China to discuss the mutual oversight of cryptocurrency investment.
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Have your say!
How should South Korea proceed? Could regulation more effectively govern any future incidents of insider trading? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments below!