PANews reported on June 11 that, according to The Block, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Crime Investigation Division has listed Bithumb CEO Lee Jae-won as a suspect in a bribery case linked to independent National Assembly member Kim Byung-kee. Police obtained a statement from a former aide alleging that in November 2024, Kim asked Lee to arrange jobs for his two sons at Bithumb. The sons joined the company two months later and worked there for approximately six months. Kim had also previously requested Bithumb to hire one of his assistants, who has been working for the company since September 2025. Police are investigating whether these employment arrangements were related to Kim's legislative actions against Upbit's operator, Dunamu, during his time on the National Assembly's Finance Committee (including accusations of Upbit monopolizing the market).