Running counter to ongoing regulatory news, a Chinese digital currency exchange is reported to be launching a new operation in South Korea. OKCoin may be open for SK business as soon as next month, it was reported by The Korea Times on January 19th. Apparently the company, which is based in Beijing, is contemplating a partnership agreement for the venture with NHN Entertainment. NHN is a Korean firm which develops, publishes, and distributes games for mobile apps and PCs. They are said to be considering an equity investment and possible partnership with OKCoin, though no final decision has yet been made.

Chinese regulatory authorities began their moves against runaway speculation on cryptocurrency trading by cracking down on exchanges in October 2017. At that point OKCoin, which was was originally established in China five years ago, was forced to cease trading on the country’s domestic exchanges. The company then shifted its operations to direct trading over the counter, and began to explore the potential for international markets.

An OKCoin Korea website has already been set up and is accepting pre-launch cryptocurrency orders. The aim is to offer 60 or more digital currencies for trading against Korean won, and anticipates no problems with SK officials, as they are already in compliance with regulatory requirements.