(사진= 연합뉴스)

[Alpha Biz=(Chicago) Reporter Paul Lee] Prosecutors investigating allegations of embezzlement by executives of affiliates of the virtual currency exchange Bithumb have sought an arrest warrant for Kang Jong-hyun, known as the real owner.

According to the prosecution on the 25th, the Financial Investigation Department 2 of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office (Deputy Prosecutor Chae Hee-man) requested arrest warrants for three people, including Kang and two Bithumb officials, on charges of embezzlement and breach of trust under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes and fraudulent transactions under the Capital Market Act.

Kang, who recently had rumors of a romantic relationship with actor Park Min-young, was suspected of being the real owner of Bithumb.

The largest shareholder of Bithumb Holdings is Vidente, which holds a 34.22% stake. The largest shareholder of this Vidente is Inbiogen, a kiosk distributor, and the largest shareholder of Inbiogen is Bucket Studio, a content distributor.

Among them, Inbiogen and Bucket Studio are headed by Kang's younger sister Kang Ji-yeon.

Kang Ji-yeon, who is also an in-house director of Bithumb Holdings, was the head of a company that supplies mobile phone accessories until 2015 and reportedly purchased three KOSDAQ-listed companies, including Vidente, Inbiogen and Bucket Studio, for 23 billion won in 2020.

In the case of Kang Ji-yeon, she was reportedly summoned in early January.

In October last year, prosecutors raided Vidente, Inbiogen and Bucket Studio and banned Kang from leaving the country ．

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