-The crypto exchange Bithumb’s primary shareholder Kang Jong-hyun apparently has “links” with gangsters
-Representatives for Park Min-youthful, the actress he seems to possess been dating, now say she’s separate with him
-Park’s older sister shows up like a director at among the firms Kang allegedly owns
-The businesses he seems to possess are registered in the more youthful sister’s name
-Bithumb’s possession structure is shrouded in mystery
It’s a story which has sent shockwaves through both South Korean entertainment world and also the crypto industry – with allegations the mysterious primary shareholder from the crypto exchange Bithumb continues to be dating among the country’s leading female actresses. But although this news may be sensational enough, the press outlet that broke the storyline has additionally alleged the shareholder has “links with gangsters.”
The storyline was damaged by Dispatch, a media outlet well known for unearthing public and celebrity scandals. Even though the headlines initially centered on the actress – Park Min-youthful – the storyline has rapidly switched to focus on the shareholder, Kang Jong-hyun.
Kang continues to be selling his stake in Bithumb for many lots of time, but is yet to locate a appropriate buyer – despite reported interest in the gaming giant Nexon and also the U . s . States-based crypto exchange FTX.
Dispatch adopted Kang for 2 several weeks, recording pictures of both him and Park, making the next “revelations” concerning the Bithumb shareholder:
- Kang’s card describes him because the Chairman of Vidente, a openly listed company that owns a sizable share of Bithumb’s stocks. He’s also listed because the Chief executive officer of these two other openly listed firms (INBIOGEN and Bucket STUDIO), along with the Bithumb affiliate Bithumb&LIVE.
- However when the press outlet contacted these businesses, they claimed to not know who he was. There’s no criminal record of Kang’s participation with these firms. His more youthful sister, however, is apparently listed because the Chief executive officer of those companies. His more youthful sister also seems to become a Bithumb shareholder.
- Kang’s home, eight luxury cars (together with a Lamborghini, a Bentley, along with a Most Highly Regarded), and the private course are registered in people’s names.
- Anonymous sources mentioned that Kang effectively delivered the radar between 2016 and 2020. One of these simple sources alleged that Kang had links with “gangsters” within the South Korean town of Seongnam. Additionally they mentioned that Kang had “done something” untoward in Pattaya, Thailand, but declined to elaborate further.
- Kang allegedly has close links to some company named Chorokbaem Media, which bought Park Min-young’s talent agency, Hook Entertainment, within an M&A deal. Park, Dispatch authored inside a separate report, ended her hire another agency – Namoo Actors – in December 2021 prior to signing with Hook. She was photographed getting interior and exterior Kang’s various cars.
- Park’s older sister was listed being an “outside director” at INBIOGEN. Park’s talent agency today issued an announcement, Newsis reported, claiming that Park’s older sister has walked lower in the role.
- Hook Entertainment today claimed that Park has “broken track of the person named within the dating rumors.” The firm mentioned it had become “totally untrue” that they had received “significant financial benefits from” Kang. Hook added: “Ms. Park could be more careful about her actions in addition to individuals of her family and everybody else linked to her. She’ll show responsibility being an actress so that as an open figure.”
- Kang has formerly been indicted for fraud and also the forgery of official documents. He was presented with a jail term for his crimes in 2016 as well as an unnamed individual claims that Kang owes them $8.3 million.
- He emerged from obscurity in 2020, the entire year when, Dispatch mentioned, he not just de facto acquired a controlling stake in Bithumb, but additionally Vidente, INBIOGEN, and Bucket STUDIO.
- In crypto circles, Kang is known a the “hidden chairman of Bithumb” – because of the fact he looks after a famously low profile and would rather keep his name from business-related operations.