South Korea Sets February 2027 Launch for Tokenized Securities

The proposed rules classify tokenized assets as regulated securities rather than separate digital assets, ensuring they remain under the oversight of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act. To manage customer accounts, issuers must maintain at least KRW 4 billion in equity capital and employ a dedicated team of compliance and IT professionals. Infrastructure requirements mandate that distributed ledgers be shared between at least two account management entities and the Korea Securities Depository to ensure system integrity.

Retail investors will face an annual net purchase limit of KRW 100 million per licensed over-the-counter exchange. Regulators designed this ceiling as a safeguard for the new trading system, though the figure remains subject to change as industry participants provide feedback during the public consultation period, which closes November 11. The rollout will proceed in stages, beginning with institutional-grade money-market funds and unlisted shares before eventually expanding to all publicly offered securities.

While the government is currently evaluating the technical and issuance standards, companies are already testing blockchain-based settlement models. However, the use of stablecoins for final payment remains part of a future, third-phase integration that depends on separate legislative progress. Following the close of public comments, the framework must undergo formal review by the Financial Services Commission and Cabinet before the official launch in 2027.