Bithumb official had resume despite not working in HR

Kim Byung-kee, independent lawmaker and former Democratic Party of Korea floor leader (left), and the Bithumb Lounge in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. [The Herald Business DB]
Kim Byung-kee, independent lawmaker and former Democratic Party of Korea floor leader (left), and the Bithumb Lounge in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. [The Herald Business DB]

Police investigating allegations that independent lawmaker Kim Byung-kee used his influence to secure a job for his second son at virtual asset exchange Bithumb have found that the company's government affairs official was in possession of the son's resume — a detail that surfaced as investigators work to solidify the case in its final stages.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Crimes Investigation Unit, which is handling the hiring-favor allegations involving Kim's second son, is examining the circumstances under which Bithumb's government affairs official, identified only as A, came to have the son's resume before he was hired.

A source familiar with the investigation said one of the remaining key questions in the probe is how A — who does not work in human resources — came to hold Kim's son's resume at the time.

Kim has been under police investigation on suspicion that he met with Bithumb officials at a restaurant in Mapo-gu, Seoul, in late 2024, handed over his son's resume and asked them to hire him. Police have since detected signs that the resume made its way to A, drawing attention to how the investigation will unfold.

A, the official police identified as having received the resume, is an executive in Bithumb's policy cooperation division, which handles government affairs. He appeared before police as a reference witness in February and April and was questioned about the process by which Kim's son was hired at Bithumb.

Asked about how he came to have the resume, A said only, "I have already given police a full account of everything related to that matter."

A representative for Kim said the matter "has nothing to do with Rep. Kim."

Earlier, police booked Bithumb CEO Lee Jae-won as a suspect in connection with the hiring-favor allegations. A search and seizure warrant executed at Bithumb's headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on June 8 listed Bithumb as a suspect on charges including bribery. Police also summoned Bithumb's HR personnel and pressed them for details about the full hiring process.

Kim's second son worked at Bithumb for six months beginning in January last year. During his son's tenure, Kim sat on the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee and is also suspected of having conducted committee activities unfavorable to Bithumb's competitors.

Meanwhile, police have summoned Kim for questioning seven times since launching a broad investigation into various allegations surrounding him in the second half of last year, yet have neither detained him nor reached a conclusion. Key suspects connected to the investigation — including those closest to Kim — have been serving on the transition committee for the incoming Dongjak-gu district chief.


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