Articles by

Danny Park
Danny is a journalist at Forkast.News. Originally from South Korea, Danny has produced content for media companies in Korea, Hong Kong and China. He holds a Bachelor of Journalism and Business Marketing from the University of Hong Kong.
November 2021
Popular NFT games made in South Korea, and banned in South Korea
Despite the global boom of play-to-earn games, South Korea will still ban blockchain-based video games that reward cashable NFTs.
South Korea’s great crypto mystery: What’s up with Upbit at 9 am?
Every morning at Upbit, the nation’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, a brief and odd surge in random altcoin prices takes place. Which crypto will it be tomorrow?
TV home shopping in South Korea moves to the metaverse
A ticket to the metaverse is highly coveted in South Korea, whether it’s by an individual, a public company or a city government.
Metaverse ETFs in South Korea bring significant profits for investors
South Korean financial companies bring investors results a month after their metaverse exchange-traded funds were listed, with one fund gathering nearly $170M in net asset value.
A crypto trader is rescued after being kidnapped by local gang for six days
A crypto investor in Hong Kong was rescued six days after being kidnapped earlier this month when he tried to meet a buyer offline who promised to purchase his Tether tokens.
South Korea’s finance minister still believes in 20% crypto tax for 2022
Despite movement from both the ruling Democratic Party and the conservative party to delay the 20% virtual asset gains tax, South Korean finance minister still thinks it should start as planned for Jan. 1, 2022.
South Korean regulator confirms that NFTs are not virtual assets
The country will follow global crypto guidelines in excluding non-fungible tokens (NFTs) from its categorization of virtual assets — meaning income from NFTs may remain untaxed in Korea.
South Korea’s Kakao, Com2uS, others race toward the metaverse
Information Technology (IT) firms in South Korea set up shop in the realm of the metaverse, with their first step being non-fungible token (NFT) platforms.
Hong Kong Fintech Week’s live comeback talks digital renminbi and DeFi
One of Asia’s largest fintech events returns for its sixth year with a hybrid format of live and virtual sessions. Regulators, corporations and experts share what’s important now in crypto.
Squid Game crypto rug pull: investors meet deadly ending
It’s a red light for those who bought the controversial token inspired by the Netflix mega-series Squid Game, as its developers appear to have cashed out their investments, leaving SQUID’s price to plunge 99.99%.
November 2021
A virtual K-pop girl group aims for the metaverse
South Korean mobile game developer Netmarble to create a virtual K-pop idol group under partnership with internet giant Kakao group using meta-human technologies.
S. Korea’s top financial regulator accused of giving special treatment to Upbit
A lawmaker claims authorities gave the country’s largest crypto exchange privilege in meeting government requirements.
South Korean crypto exchanges look for new revenue sources
After iron-fisted regulations closed down many exchanges, remaining trading platforms look for alternatives to transaction fees.
Samsung Next, others grow blockchain portfolio despite tightened South Korea regulations
Conglomerates including Samsung continue to invest in blockchain and crypto startups despite a government crackdown on the industry.
Hong Kong exhibition to showcase NFTs for good causes
An NFT art exhibition demonstrates how digital tokens can be used to promote United Nations sustainability goals.
Top South Korean exchange accused of listing faulty tokens for fees
A lawmaker claims Upbit earned hundreds of millions by listing sketchy cryptocurrencies, while the exchange rebuts that it follows fair and strict standards.
Petitioners oppose looming 20% crypto tax in South Korea
Crypto investors say virtual asset gains will be taxed on uneven grounds compared to stock capital gains.
Illegal foreign exchange transactions using crypto in South Korea break record, grow fortyfold
The country sees a rise in the amount of illegal currency transactions across the border while the use of virtual assets makes it almost impossible to track down.
October 2021
South Korean banks find workaround to cash in on crypto services
NH Nonghyup is the third bank in South Korea to invest in a virtual asset custody service while they are prohibited from running their own.
Damage to South Korean crypto market limited despite mass closure, regulator says
South Korea’s virtual asset industry is expected to withstand major regulatory reconstruction
Crypto markets shrug off China’s latest saber-rattling
Is China’s influence over Bitcoin and the global crypto market waning? Chinese exchanges get a thrashing as decentralized exchanges get happy on clampdown news.
Fewer South Korean crypto exchanges remain in business under new industry regulations
Around 35 virtual asset exchanges will vanish as of midnight Friday, as the country imposes new rules designed to protect consumers.
South Korea’s crypto crackdown: What you need to know
The country’s crypto industry has been turned upside down with stricter operating rules that take effect tomorrow.
Upbit becomes South Korea’s first newly registered crypto exchange
Upbit can operate as a virtual monopoly as it becomes the country’s first licensed business to handle cryptocurrencies.
Black Friday in South Korea as crypto exchanges announce shutdown
All but four platforms in South Korea obligated to announce the suspension of their services by today.
South Korea’s crypto ‘death note’ updated; 7 more exchanges to survive
Financial authorities reveal an updated list of virtual asset platforms that have complied with new regulations.
‘Pororo the Little Penguin’ NFTs and metaverse theme park underway
The Sandbox, Animoca Brand’s subsidiary for decentralized virtual gaming, announces partnership with animation studio in Korea.
South Korean exchanges facing closure may seek legal action to halt new regulations
At the risk of losing billions, crypto industry officials weigh options to oppose authorities.
South Korean crypto exchanges in ‘purgatory’ plea for survival
Smaller virtual asset exchanges ask for mercy as a deadline looms to commit to Korea’s new standards.
South Korea expected to allow more crypto exchanges to survive do-or-die regulations
Only 21 out of 60 exchanges are expected to continue their services in Korea.
Exchanges in South Korea race toward last chance of survival
Crypto trading platforms rush to meet a Sept. 24 deadline, hoping to comply with new rules designed to protect investors.
Blockchain game MIR4 gains global popularity despite ban at home in South Korea
The multiplayer online role-playing game is widely popular elsewhere, while Korea bans play-to-earn crypto and NFT trading.
September 2021
More teens in South Korea buy crypto despite strict pending regulations
New data shows increasing deposits made by teens in virtual currency despite new rules that may close down many platforms in less than a month.
South Korea unveils “death note” for crypto exchanges
24 out of 63 digital currency exchanges in South Korea are not expected to meet new compliance requirements and will most likely be shut down in less than a month.