The Blue House, the executive office and official residence of the South Korean President, has announced that there will be no cryptocurrency trading ban in the short-term.

In an official announcement, South Korean government reaffirms there will be NO TRADING BAN for #cryptocurrency market in the short term and NOTHING IS FINALIZED.



A petition to fire the head of the Ministry of Justice over the #cryptocurrency trading fiasco filed. pic.twitter.com/tb5tDvIV2K — Joseph Young (@iamjosephyoung) January 11, 2018

No ban, all FUD

The South Korean government’s official announcement came after a massive backlash and criticism against the Ministry of Justice, which independently announced its plans of banning cryptocurrency trading. The Ministry did this without the consent of the Ministry of Strategy and Justice and other government agencies involved in the South Korean cryptocurrency regulation task force.

According to the Blue House, more than 60,000 citizens voted in a petition to fire the head of the Ministry of Justice Park Sang-ki, who released a premature statement earlier today, on January 11, that the government will implement a policy to shut down cryptocurrency trading.

Almost immediately after Minister Park released his statement, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance emphasized that it does not support or agree with the decision of the Ministry of Justice to ban cryptocurrency trading. It also added that the Ministry of Strategy and Finance only found out about the statement of Minister Park through media reports, and the decision to ban cryptocurrency trading was not agreed upon by the task force.

In 2016, former South Korean President Park Geun-hye, who is currently in jail for money laundering and corruption charges, was impeached by the people of the country who strongly voiced out their opposition against the former president. Millions of South Korean citizens came out to the streets and surrounded the Blue House, until the court decided to finally process the impeachment.

Since then, the voice of the South Korean citizens has strengthened and the new government, led by the current President Moon Jae-in, vowed to listen to the people.

In consideration of past events and the government’s announcement that cryptocurrency trading ban will not implemented in the short-term, it is likely that the South Korean government will move towards regulating and fostering the local cryptocurrency market.

Ban unlikely even in long-term

Previously, a spokesperson from the South Korean cryptocurrency task force stated that the country will follow the regulatory roadmap set by major regions like Japan and the US. Hence, it is highly unlikely that even in the long-term, a cryptocurrency trading ban will be imposed. The spokesperson said: