South Korea police search former mayor's home in crypto probe

South Korean police searched the home of former Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok and city offices Sunday as part of an investigation into allegations that cryptocurrency assets were omitted from his local election financial disclosure, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Investigators from the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency's Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit carried out search and seizure operations at Yoo's residence and the General Affairs Division of Incheon City Hall, where they collected mobile phones and computers as evidence. The investigation centers on claims that Yoo and his wife intentionally failed to report approximately 21,000 cryptocurrency tokens after transferring the holdings to an overseas exchange before submitting mandatory asset disclosures during South Korea's June 3 local elections.

Police have already questioned Yoo, his wife identified only by her surname Choi, and individuals tied to the campaign of complainant Park Chan-dae. The newly executed searches aim to secure additional evidence as investigators continue examining whether the reported assets should have been included in the election filings.

The allegations first surfaced roughly 10 days before election day, when Park's campaign committee filed a criminal complaint accusing Yoo and his wife of deliberately leaving the cryptocurrency holdings out of their legally required property declaration, Yonhap reported. The Incheon City Election Commission later conducted its own review and separately referred the case to police after determining there were possible violations of election law.

Further scrutiny followed on June 2, the day before voters went to the polls, when the election commission issued a correction notice stating that the total assets listed in Yoo's campaign materials were about 78 million Korean won lower than his actual assets, according to Yonhap. Authorities are now investigating whether the difference resulted from the omitted cryptocurrency holdings and whether the omission was intentional.

South Korea requires candidates in public elections to disclose their assets. Inaccurate or incomplete declarations can lead to criminal investigations under the Public Official Election Act if authorities determine the information was knowingly withheld.

Investigators have not publicly disclosed which cryptocurrency was involved. The reported transfer of roughly 21,000 tokens to an overseas exchange has become a central part of the investigation because prosecutors and election authorities are examining whether moving the assets affected disclosure obligations.

The case adds to a series of investigations in South Korea where digital assets have become part of political or regulatory inquiries. In June, police searched cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb as part of an investigation into allegations that independent lawmaker Kim Byung-gi used his political influence to help his son obtain employment at Bithumb and Dunamu, the operator of Upbit. Authorities questioned Kim several times while examining whether any laws had been violated through alleged influence over hiring decisions. The inquiry later expanded to include searches of Bithumb offices and interviews with exchange executives.

Crypto asset disclosures by public officials have drawn attention outside South Korea. Earlier this month, FBI Director Kash Patel disclosed a previously unreported purchase of between $100,001 and $250,000 in Strategy stock months after the legal filing deadline under the U.S. STOCK Act. Patel attributed the delay to a miscommunication. The Department of Justice said the transaction did not create a conflict of interest. Government watchdogs criticized the late disclosure because Strategy is the world's largest publicly traded corporate holder of bitcoin, renewing debate over financial transparency among senior public officials.

The investigation remains ongoing. Police have not announced whether additional suspects will be questioned or charges filed.