Korea Customs Uncovers ₩11.4 Trillion in Illicit Remittances, Mostly via Crypto

Korea Customs reports ₩11.4 trillion in illegal remittances over five years, mostly crypto, with a ₩920 billion stablecoin ring busted and expanded anti-smuggling enforcement.

Summary

Korea Customs disclosed that ₩11.4 trillion (around $8.5 billion) in underground remittances were uncovered in the past five years, with 83% conducted via cryptocurrency. Authorities dismantled a stablecoin-based syndicate responsible for ₩920 billion in illicit transfers. A 126-person enforcement team has been deployed to combat smuggling, money laundering, and cross-border financial crimes involving digital assets.

Terms & Concepts
  • USDT (Tether): A stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar, commonly used for transferring value on blockchain networks.
  • Underground remittances: Illegal or unregistered transfer of funds across borders, often used to bypass financial regulations.
  • Stablecoin: A type of cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable value by pegging it to a reserve asset such as the U.S. dollar.