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South Korea Probes Fresh Theft After Tax Agency’s Crypto Seed Leak

Officials are rushing a cross‑agency audit following a press photo that exposed a wallet seed phrase.

Overview

  • Police said the 4 million PRTG tokens were stolen again after a person who claimed to have taken and returned them came forward, and investigators are reviewing both incidents.
  • Roughly $4.8 million in PRTG moved within hours of the Feb. 26 press release, with blockchain researcher Cho Jae-woo tracing the transfers across multiple wallets.
  • The National Tax Service apologized, accepted full responsibility, requested a police probe, and said it is revising its seizure and storage manual and staff training.
  • Authorities note the token’s thin trading makes cashing out difficult, so recovery prospects hinge on on-chain tracing and cooperation from regulated exchanges.
  • Deputy Prime Minister Koo Yun-cheol ordered a government-wide inspection of digital-asset custody, while police move to dual-control recovery phrases and plan to use specialized custodians.