[2022 National Audit] Political Affairs Committee Approves Accompaniment Order for Former Bithumb CEO Lee Jeong-hoon (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ji Yeon-jin] On the 6th, a summons order was issued for Lee Jung-hoon, former CEO of Bithumb, who was selected as a witness at the National Assembly's Financial Services Commission audit by the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee.

The Political Affairs Committee held a plenary session immediately after the audit questioning in the afternoon and unanimously passed the motion to issue a summons order for former Chairman Lee.

Baek Hye-ryun, chairperson of the Political Affairs Committee, explained, "This agenda item is to order Lee Jung-hoon, the witness, to accompany us to the audit site by the end of today's audit, despite having submitted a letter of absence."

Earlier, Min Byung-duk, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said from the start of the audit in the morning, "There is a public suspicion that former Bithumb Chairman Lee Jung-hoon was involved in manipulating coin prices at Bithumb," adding, "Arowana Coin's issuing company, Hangul and Computer, has not clarified allegations of slush fund creation, and due to lack of supervisory regulations, we requested him as a witness."

He criticized, "However, the reason for absence is absurd," stating, "He claimed he could not engage in normal activities such as meeting outsiders due to health reasons like depression and panic disorder, but he appeared as a defendant at the Central District Court criminal trial on the 4th and actively responded." He continued, "Arowana is a different case from the criminal lawsuit Lee is involved in," emphasizing, "He can refuse to testify on matters related to the trial, but not on other matters."

He added, "This is a deliberate absence, avoiding attendance with ridiculous logic," and requested, "Since this is an important time to identify problems and causes of virtual assets, please issue a summons order."

Meanwhile, former Chairman Lee submitted a letter of absence to the Political Affairs Committee members on the 30th of last month, stating, "Due to health issues and criminal lawsuits, it is difficult to attend as a witness at the audit on the 6th." He said, "Since 2020, I have been diagnosed with severe depression and panic disorder. I have been unable to engage in normal activities such as meeting outsiders and have long since stepped down from management."