Mr. Kang May Face 10 Years in Prison for Stabbing Haru Invest CEO Lee Hyung-soo in Seoul Courtroom

YEREVAN (CoinChapter.com) — Mr. Kang may receive a 10-year prison sentence for stabbing Haru Invest’s CEO Lee Hyung-soo in a Seoul courtroom.

YEREVAN (CoinChapter.com) – Mr. Kang may face a 10-year prison sentence for stabbing Haru Invest’s CEO Lee Hyung-soo in a Seoul courtroom. The attack occurred on August 28, 2024, inside courtroom 306 at the Seoul Southern District Court in Yangcheon-gu.

As reported by local news outlet Myungil, Kang, a customer of Haru Invest, reportedly lost 100 BTC and attacked the crypto CEO during an active trial. He stabbed Lee in the neck several times. The prosecution described the attack as severe and deliberate, calling for a 10-year sentence on charges of attempted murder and disrupting court proceedings.

On March 19, during the final hearing, prosecutors maintained their stance, highlighting how the crime disrupted a public trial and displayed extreme violence. They said, “The defendant’s acts of stabbing the victim multiple times in the neck from behind during the trial and attempting to kill him in a moment of rage is an exceptionally violent crime that can be described as vicious.”

The case unfolded after Lee Hyung-soo, the crypto CEO, was put on trial for allegedly defrauding 16,000 investors through Haru Invest. The reported total loss reached about $826 million. Among the affected users was Kang, who claimed major losses.

According to his lawyer, Kang, 60, acted out of "emotional stress" and financial pressure after losing 100 BTC. The defense team admitted he stabbed Lee but said it should be viewed as special assault, not attempted murder. They said the attack was not planned and claimed Kang acted on impulse after feeling deceived by Lee and the court.

The court reviewed a report from the National Forensic Hospital. It said Kang was mentally fit and understood his actions during the attack. This evaluation weakened the defense’s claim that Kang had no control over his actions due to emotional strain. The court noted that he was not in a state of mental weakness or unconsciousness.

Despite this, Lee, the crypto CEO, requested the court show leniency to Kang, citing the emotional toll caused by the crypto losses. He said, “I am deeply flustered by the defendant’s actions and cannot understand why he would commit such an act.”

Kang spoke during the final session. He said, “I deeply reflect and regret that this act occurred in a place where it should not have happened, and I am truly sorry.”

His legal team also asked the court to cancel his arrest. They cited Article 172 of the Criminal Procedure Act, which limits detention to six months. They argued his time already spent in custody should count toward this limit.

The final sentencing is scheduled for April 4, 2025. The court will also decide whether to cancel the arrest based on time served.

Earlier in March, another stabbing in South Korea involved a crypto transaction. A 40-year-old Chinese man died after being stabbed several times during a cryptocurrency deal worth 85 million won ($68,000) at a hotel in southern Seoul, police said on Wednesday.

The incident, which took place on Monday at a luxury hotel in the city of Yangsan, ended in robbery, with the deceased man’s valuables stolen, according to Yonhap news agency.

Police are treating this case separately. However, both incidents highlight the risks linked to unresolved crypto disputes in South Korea, which has seen a surge in interest in digital assets in recent years.