The Seoul Eastern District Prosecutor's Office in South Korea has charged a man in his 30s with allegedly mixing the pesticide Methomyl into his drink during a meeting with a business partner at a café in November 2025.
The whole story: from the Bitcoin partnership to the attempted murder of pesticide poisoning
The two men have jointly run an investment company since 2022, focusing on managing Bitcoin investment projects. The financial dispute intensified when the defendant's losses exceeded 1.17 billion won and affected the company's funds, with the injured party taking over control of the company's finances after the conflict escalated.
According to reports from South Korea's Chosun Ilbo and Asia Business Daily, the defendant secretly mixed the insecticide Medodal into the victim's drink during a meeting at a café in November 2025. The victim lost consciousness and passed out after drinking, and was rushed to the hospital, where he regained consciousness after three days.
The victim later told the media: "At that time, I was preparing to get married, my wife was pregnant, and my family was almost completely destroyed. Now I have recovered a lot, but I still need to continue to seek medical attention." The defendant is currently facing two charges of attempted murder and violation of the Pesticide Management Act.
Case background: Extreme investment disputes under the rapid growth of the Korean crypto market
The case comes against the backdrop of the rapid expansion of the South Korean cryptocurrency market. Since the current President Lee Jae-myung took office in June 2025, South Korea has actively promoted cryptocurrency-friendly regulatory legislation, including the stablecoin legalization bill, which has contributed to the continuous expansion of the market, with the number of crypto exchange users exceeding 1,600, accounting for more than 30% of the country's total population.
However, the market pullback in late 2025 has put severe loss pressure on a large number of investors. Bitcoin fell rapidly from its peak of over $12.5M in October 2025 to below $9M at the end of December and is currently trading at around $6.55K, with a peak drop of nearly 48%. This case has become a typical case of crypto investment disputes deteriorating into violence under extreme market pressure.
A quick overview of the key facts of the case
Time of the crime: November 2025, at a café in Seoul
Poisoning method: Secretly mixed the insecticide Methomyl into the victim's drink
Cause of the case: Bitcoin investment losses of more than 11.7 billion won (about $81.6 million) caused a partnership financial dispute
Victim status: He lost consciousness and was sent to the hospital, regained consciousness three days later, and is still seeking medical attention
charges: Attempted murder and violation of the Pesticide Control Act
Judgment date: March 10, 2026, Seoul Eastern District Court
Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous is the pesticide Methomivir involved in this case, and why did the victim survive?
Methomyl is a highly toxic organic pesticide that is a carbamate insecticide that has a serious impact on the human nervous system. According to reports, the victim lost consciousness immediately after drinking it, and regained consciousness after three days of treatment after being sent to the hospital, and his survival may be related to timely hospitalization. The specific details of the condition have not been fully disclosed.
What penalties may the defendant face under South Korean law for attempted murder charges?
Under the Korean legal system, attempted murder (attempted murder) can face up to decades in prison depending on the severity of the crime and the specific circumstances. Coupled with additional charges of violating the Pesticide Management Act, the final sentence will be determined by the outcome of the trial at the Seoul Eastern District Court on March 10, 2026.
Does the high penetration rate of the Korean crypto market exacerbate the risk of investment disputes?
South Korea has over 1,600 crypto trading users, accounting for more than 30% of the total population, making it one of the countries with the highest crypto penetration rate in the world. High penetration is accompanied by broader retail investor participation, which can trigger extreme reactions when the market pulls back rapidly and investment losses reach the scale of personal financial collapse, and this case is a concrete manifestation of this risk phenomenon.
