South Korea Intensifies Crypto AML Regulations

South Korea is gearing up for a more stringent approach to Anti-Money Laundering (AML) within the cryptocurrency space. The nation plans to broaden the scope of its "Travel Rule" to encompass crypto transactions valued at under 1 million won (approximately $680). This move is designed to close loopholes that allow users to circumvent identity reporting mandates by breaking up larger transfers into smaller, less conspicuous amounts.

Lee Eok-won, Chairman of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), announced these intentions during a session of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, as reported by Yonhap News. He emphasized the government's commitment to aggressively tackling money laundering activities that exploit the use of cryptocurrencies. The aim is to prevent the use of crypto for tax evasion, drug trafficking, and other illicit overseas payment schemes.

Key Aspects of the Enhanced Regulations

  • Expanded Travel Rule: Exchanges will be obligated to collect and share sender and receiver information for crypto transfers below the $680 threshold.
  • Restrictions on High-Risk Offshore Exchanges: Platforms deemed to pose a significant money laundering risk will be prohibited from interacting with South Korean users.
  • Stricter Financial Health Reviews: Crypto exchanges will face more rigorous assessments of their financial stability, raising the bar for Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) registration.
  • Preventing Criminal Influence: Individuals with criminal records related to drug offenses or tax evasion will be barred from holding substantial ownership positions in VASPs.
  • Proactive Account Freezing: The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) will implement mechanisms for preemptively freezing accounts involved in serious offenses.

Timeline and Implementation

Authorities anticipate finalizing the new regulatory framework in the first half of 2026 and will submit the necessary legislative amendments to the National Assembly. Furthermore, they plan to enhance cooperation with international bodies like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

Targeting Tax Evasion

This announcement follows earlier initiatives in South Korea to combat tax evasion. On October 19th, an official from the National Tax Service (NTS) stated that the agency is prepared to conduct searches and confiscate cold wallets and hard drives if individuals are suspected of concealing crypto assets offline to avoid paying taxes. The NTS will analyze tax delinquency histories using crypto-tracking programs to identify and target potential cases of offline concealment.


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