[South Korean Ruling Party Lawmaker Accused of 'Suppressing Upbit and Securing a Job at Bithumb for His Son'] According to a report by DL News citing Kyunghyang Shinmun, Kim Byung-ki, the floor leader of South Korea's ruling Democratic Party, has been accused of pressuring Upbit, a major competitor of Bithumb, in parliament after securing an internship position for his son at the cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb. His former aide revealed that in February this year, Kim Byung-ki instructed his team to prepare inquiry materials to 'attack' Upbit's operator, Dunamu, citing its 'monopoly' in the crypto market. Investigative news outlet NewsTapa reported in September that Kim Byung-ki privately met with Bithumb in November 2024, after which his son was hired as an intern in Bithumb's data team. Kim Byung-ki himself has repeatedly criticized the 'monopoly position of a single exchange' during parliamentary sessions, specifically pointing out 700,000 KYC violations by the exchange. Upbit held a 72% market share in South Korea in the first half of 2025. Kim Byung-ki has denied the allegations, stating that his remarks did not target any specific company and that his son's employment is unrelated to his legislative activities. The incident has sparked pressure from major opposition parties and some factions within the ruling coalition demanding his resignation.