A Seoul man in his thirties has been charged with attempted murder after a business partner fell critically ill following a meeting at a café, South Korean prosecutors and local media report. Authorities say the case grew out of a bitter dispute over failed cryptocurrency investments.
Prosecutors allege the accused slipped the pesticide methomyl into his partner’s coffee during a November meeting. The victim collapsed soon after, was rushed to hospital and regained consciousness three days later. The Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office has opened the case and formally charged the suspect with attempted murder and violations of the Pesticide Control Act.
According to local outlets, the conflict traces back to a joint Bitcoin investment program begun in 2022 that reportedly lost about ₩1.17 billion. That figure — the parties’ own estimate — is said to include company funds and money the accused invested personally. Public reports do not make clear whether outside investors were involved, a detail that would affect whether the losses are treated as private misfortune or potential misconduct with wider consequences.
Reporting from Chosun and Asia Business Daily has emphasized the human cost: the victim described sleepless nights, extended hospital care and a wedding put on hold as a result of the incident. Those firsthand accounts have framed the story beyond a simple financial dispute.
Prosecutors say they will present evidence at trial linking the accused to the pesticide and to the drink served at the café. The trial is scheduled for March 10 at the Seoul Eastern District Court. If convicted, the defendant faces serious penalties including prison time and fines under the pesticide law.
This case highlights two intersecting concerns for Korea’s crypto scene: the real-world fallout of large investment losses and the legal exposure that can follow interpersonal and financial disputes. Further details about the investment operation’s structure and whether third-party funds were at risk are not yet public.
Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView.
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