Seoul Gangnam Police Station confirmed that 22 BTC seized in a 2021 investigation were unknowingly drained from a USB-based cold wallet, with the loss only discovered during a recent internal audit. The physical device was not stolen, but the funds were siphoned out while the case was suspended, delaying detection.

Gyeonggi Bukbu Provincial Police Agency has opened an internal probe to determine how the breach occurred and whether any insider involvement played a role.

The discovery came amid a nationwide inspection triggered by a separate incident at the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, where investigators reportedly lost access to 320 BTC after falling victim to a phishing site.