Korean regulators are stepping up enforcement toolkits—now pushing for a 'payment freeze' mechanism targeting cryptocurrency accounts connected to suspects under investigation. The idea? Lock down funds before they can be cashed out while legal proceedings unfold, preventing the laundering of illicit gains. It's not entirely new territory; they're borrowing playbook tactics from stock market manipulation cases where similar asset freezes proved effective. This move sits within the broader virtual asset legislation phase 2 rollout, signaling that policymakers are getting more sophisticated about plugging loopholes in the crypto ecosystem. Whether it sticks depends on how courts interpret the framework and whether exchanges cooperate smoothly with regulatory freeze orders.