South Korea Seeks Interpol's Aid in Bringing Do Kwon Back to the Country

South Korea's National Police Agency has officially sought Interpol's intervention to bring back Do Kwon, co-founder of Terraform Labs, according to a March 7 report by The Block. 

This move comes after a Montenegrin court revoked Kwon's extradition order to the U.S., providing an opportunity for South Korea to renew its extradition request.

In a written letter sent on Thursday, South Korea's police agency forwarded an electronic document to Interpol's General Secretariat, as confirmed by a police representative. However, as of now, the agency has yet to receive a response from Interpol. 

Meanwhile, South Korea's Ministry of Justice is independently seeking assistance from Interpol to ensure Kwon's return.

Kwon's defense attorneys successfully appealed the initial extradition order to the U.S., citing misinformation as the basis for the decision. The defense argued that the U.S. request for extradition preceded South Korea's, prompting the Montenegrin court to reconsider. 

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Red Notice Issued by Interpol

Even before Kwon's arrest in September 2022, South Korean authorities had urged Interpol to issue a "red notice" for the co-founder. The New York Times reported the request, leading Interpol to subsequently issue the notice for the search and arrest of Do Kwon. 

In a significant turn of events last March, Montenegro police detained Do Kwon at Podgorica airport while he attempted to board a flight to Dubai. During the arrest, authorities discovered forged Costa Rican passports and a Belgian passport in Kwon's possession. 

The Montenegrin police formally charged the ex-Terra CEO and another suspect for alleged forgery of official documents, setting the stage for legal proceedings in a Podgorica court.

Shortly after Kwon's detention in Montenegro, the U.S. District Court in Manhattan issued an eight-count indictment against him. The charges include two counts each of securities fraud, wire fraud, commodities fraud, and conspiracy.