KT targets won-backed stablecoins in 18 trillion won expansion

The company’s roadmap centers on a "Token Factory" initiative, designed to handle the full lifecycle of digital assets from creation and brokerage to billing and settlement. KT intends to integrate this platform with its existing ecosystem, utilizing K Bank’s 16 million users and BC Card’s network of 3.5 million merchants to facilitate real-world stablecoin payments. This push into blockchain finance arrives as South Korean regulators prepare new digital asset legislation, following political support for private-sector won-backed stablecoins.

Beyond tokenization, KT is committing 6 trillion won to AI infrastructure, including expanding data center capacity to 1GW and upgrading submarine cables to boost international network performance by over 90Tbps. A further 12 trillion won will reinforce core telecom operations, with 4 trillion won specifically earmarked to double cybersecurity capacity through a zero-trust model and an expanded workforce. To support these initiatives, the company is deepening technical partnerships with global giants like Google and Palantir, alongside local AI developers such as Upstage and Rebellions.