News View Non-AMP

South Korean Woman Steals $480,000 in Crypto to Pay Off Debts

Published by
Anjali Belgaumkar

A South Korean woman has been arrested for allegedly stealing a friend’s $480,000 (700 Million won) worth of cryptocurrency to pay off her debts. The incident occurred after the woman met her victim on a chat app a few months ago.

South Korean Woman Steals $480K in Crypto to Settle Debts

On January 7th, the woman reportedly stole her friend’s phone from their home in Jeju City and used it to access the victim’s crypto holdings. She sold the cryptocurrency for cash, transferring the funds to her own bank accounts.

The suspect fled the scene but was tracked down quickly after the victim reported the theft. Police arrested her in Gomi, North Jeolla Province, on January 8th. The woman reportedly confessed that her motive was to pay off debts.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the case. This follows previous incidents in South Korea where individuals have been sentenced for similar crimes involving cryptocurrency theft.

Previous Crypto Theft Cases in South Korea Highlight Growing Concerns

In December 2024, a South Korean banker was sentenced to 15 years in prison for stealing $12.4 million from his employer, Woori Bank, to fund his cryptocurrency addiction. Over a period of 10 months, the banker forged loan documents, funneled money into his accounts, and spent $10.4 million on crypto investments. Unfortunately, he lost $4.35 million in failed crypto ventures. The court ordered him to repay 10.52 billion won ($7.3 million). While $3 million worth of assets were seized, the remaining $4 million is considered unrecoverable.

Anjali Belgaumkar

Writer by choice, CryptoCurrency Writer, and Researcher by chance. Currently, focusing on financial news and analysis, as well as cryptocurrency news and data. One may not call me a crypto “Enthusiast” but trust me I'm getting there.

Recent Posts

What’s Preventing Solana (SOL) Price From Reaching $180?

Solana's price has demonstrated sufficient strength in the past by initiating quick recoveries and reclaiming…

June 3, 2025

Norway’s NBX Joins Bitcoin Treasury Trend, Stock Jumps 138%

The Bitcoin tide continues to turn corporate heads, this time in Norway. As BTC hovers…

June 3, 2025

Fed Chair Powell Hints at Softer Monetary Policy, Bitcoin Back to $106K

The world’s largest cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, has jumped back to $106k today after dipping to some…

June 3, 2025

Fact Check: Will Ripple Sell $10 Billion Worth of XRP to Buy Circle?

Ripple Labs is allegedly considering buying Circle for billions of dollars. But how will Ripple…

June 3, 2025

Memecoins on the Move: WIF and PEPE A Must Buy Today?

Memecoins are making a buzz in the crypto market today, with bullish momentum sweeping across…

June 3, 2025

Can Future Pepe Finally End the Era of Meme Coin Rug Pulls and Scams?

We've all seen the devastating pattern—meme coins surge overnight, luring in enthusiastic investors, only to…

June 3, 2025