- Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said the city will strengthen support for fintech companies in response to changes in the financial industry centered on AI, blockchain and digital assets.
- Oh said stablecoins and asset tokenization are changing the structure of payments, remittances and asset trading, laying the foundation for new financial services.
- The Seoul city government said it will expand corporate support and investment linkages to build a global financial hub through Seoul Fintech Lab, Second Seoul Fintech Lab and the Invest Seoul Agency.
Forecast Trend Report by Period
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said support for fintech companies will be expanded as the financial industry rapidly evolves around artificial intelligence, blockchain and digital assets.
Edaily reported on Oct. 26 that Oh, speaking in a congratulatory address at the Seoul Fintech Week 2026 conference at Conrad Seoul in Yeouido, said building an ecosystem that brings together technology, talent and innovative companies is crucial to strengthening the competitiveness of a financial city.
Oh said AI, blockchain and digital assets are expanding the scope of traditional financial services. He said AI agents are developing beyond simple financial-task support toward making payments, managing assets and handling investments on behalf of users.
He also pointed to the growth potential of stablecoins and asset tokenization. Those technologies are changing the structure of payments, remittances and asset transactions, laying the foundation for new financial services. He stressed, however, that a trust framework capable of protecting user assets and personal data must support such innovation if technological advances are to translate into sustainable growth.
Oh also expressed confidence in Seoul’s global financial competitiveness. He said Seoul recently ranked seventh among global financial centers in the Global Financial Centres Index and also recorded its highest-ever fintech ranking at seventh. He described that as a positive assessment by the international community of Seoul’s growth potential in financial services.
At the same time, he said the impact on Seoul’s financial competitiveness should be considered in connection with the Financial Services Commission’s decision to relocate to Sejong. Oh said the development of Seoul’s financial industry is directly tied to the national economy and that balanced regional development and stronger international financial competitiveness should be pursued together.
The Seoul city government also plans to expand corporate support as it works to build a global financial hub. Through the Invest Seoul Agency, it plans to help overseas companies and investors enter Seoul, while strengthening support tailored to fintech companies at different stages of growth through Seoul Fintech Lab and Second Seoul Fintech Lab.
Oh said the city will expand support and investment linkages so financial companies and fintech firms can apply new technologies in real-world finance and continue developing them. He added that Seoul will use Yeouido’s financial infrastructure and the city’s innovation ecosystem to attract global capital and talent.