From Darkness to Light: Relisting Litecoin as South Korea’s Test of Privacy and Freedom

It's a well-known image, the Korean Peninsula from space. The lights from cities like Seoul, Busan, and Incheon sparkle like so many stars of freedom, while to the north of the 48th parallel only darkness prevails. That image teaches us that illumination is not only powered by electricity but by freedom. Protecting fundamental human rights is as essential to keeping darkness in check as technology.­­

South Korea has long prioritized privacy and digital security. The Personal Information Protection Act, passed in 2011 and expanded over time, enshrines citizens’ rights to control their personal data. Alongside this, the APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules require strict handling and disclosure standards for information linked to individuals. Privacy remains a cornerstone of civil liberties, and a functioning digital economy must respect these principles.

Despite these protections, Litecoin (LTC) was delisted from South Korean exchanges after enabling MimbleWimble Extension Blocks (MWEB), a privacy and fungibility upgrade. Meanwhile, other digital assets with less rigorous governance and higher concentration of control continue to be traded. Excluding Litecoin places South Korea out of step with global standards, reducing access to a proven, decentralized, widely transacted cryptocurrency.

Globally, Litecoin enjoys unquestioned support. Exchanges in the United States, Japan, and the European Union trade it freely, showing that privacy features can coexist with careful oversight. Its dominant role on payment platforms such as BitPay and CoinGate confirms that it functions as a practical currency rather than a speculative novelty. Built for fast, reliable transactions with a decentralized mining system, Litecoin remains sturdier and more dependable than many digital assets currently permitted in South Korea.

There is also a human dimension to privacy that resonates with South Korea’s values. Videos of North Koreans who have escaped to the West illustrate the transformative power of privacy. For the first time, they experience the freedom to make choices without surveillance. Litecoin, as a decentralized digital asset with privacy features, embodies these same freedoms, allowing transactions without oppressive oversight and reinforcing the principle that economic liberty supports individual liberty.

Since 2022, South Korea has gradually refined its approach to digital assets, introducing measures that safeguard users while giving legitimate cryptocurrencies a clearer path to operate. Key reforms, including the Virtual Asset User Protection Act, regulations on stablecoins, and a licensing system for virtual asset operators, have strengthened oversight, enhanced consumer protection, and addressed many of the concerns that once led to Litecoin’s delisting. These steps demonstrate that privacy-focused cryptocurrencies can coexist with responsible regulation.

Relisting Litecoin would align South Korea with its allies, strengthen its financial innovation ecosystem, and protect consumers by offering a transparent, reliable, and regulated cryptocurrency option. It would also signal to the world that South Korea upholds democratic principles, supports privacy, and remains a competitive, innovation-friendly hub for digital finance.

Litecoin has proven itself resilient, decentralized, and integral to global payments. For South Korea to continue its exclusion is inconsistent with both its domestic privacy commitments and its international role. Re-listing Litecoin is not just a financial choice but a statement of South Korea’s principles, echoing the view from space where the South shines, even as the North remains in shadow.

Ōishi Yoshio

Author’s note:

This article builds on the original “Privacy Is a Human Right,” first published June 2022.

https://www.lookintolitecoin.com/post/privacy-is-a-human-right