The electronic board at an exchange in Yeouido shows a tumble in the prices of cryptocurrencies after the government's anti-speculation measures Thursday. The government backed down in the face of massive investors' protests with the prices having recovered. / Korea Times



By Oh Young-jin



Cryptocurrency "investors" have forced the Korean government to halt its plan that could include a ban on its trading.



Tens of thousands of people flooded the presidential online petition board to protest Justice Minister Park Sang-ki's earlier reference to the closure of Bitcoin exchanges.



"Park's remarks are just one of the options on the table," presidential office spokesman Yoon Young-chan said.



Online comments include "Cryptocurrencies die, I die," "Cryptocurrencies are the essence of the fourth industrial revolution so killing them is like killing the future," among others.



