Seoul, South Korea — June 7, 2025
In a major move signaling stronger alignment between government and the blockchain industry, Kim Yong-beom, former CEO of Hashed Research, has been appointed Chief Policy Officer by South Korea’s newly elected President Lee Jae-myung.
Kim, a former Vice Minister of Economy and Finance under the Moon Jae-in administration, brings both regulatory experience and deep crypto-native expertise to the Blue House. His appointment is widely seen as a positive signal for Korea’s Web3 future.
“A very sad day at Hashed Open Research,” wrote Simon Kim, CEO of crypto fund Hashed, in an X post. “The new president just stole our CEO… arguably the most crypto-native and Web3-friendly official in Korean history.”
Key Implications:
- Crypto-Friendly Government: The Lee administration has already signaled strong support for blockchain innovation, and Kim’s appointment is expected to accelerate Web3 policy development.
- Won-Based Stablecoin Priority: One of Kim’s first tasks may be overseeing the launch of a Korean won-pegged stablecoin to help prevent capital flight and position Korea as a leader in digital finance.
- U.S. Policy Imitation: Korean regulators are reportedly watching U.S. crypto regulation closely, aiming to mirror aspects of the evolving American framework.
Kim’s appointment reflects a growing global trend: bringing crypto insiders into top regulatory roles to craft informed, innovation-friendly policy.
