Korea has emerged as one of the most tightly regulated jurisdictions for blockchain and digital assets. Companies engaging in ICO, STO, IEO, stablecoin issuance, or DeFi services must navigate a complex legal framework, often involving multiple regulators and statutes. Recent developments—such as the approval of corporate accounts for virtual asset trading—are reshaping how foreign and domestic businesses can access the Korean market. Our bilingual lawyers combine technical fluency with regulatory insight to help clients stay compliant while capturing new opportunities.
We advise Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) on registration and ongoing compliance under the Act on the Protection of Virtual Asset Users and related AML/KYC regulations. This includes preparing internal control standards, anti-money laundering (AML) programs, and meeting the reporting obligations of exchanges, custodians, and wallet providers.
Our team structures Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), Security Token Offerings (STOs), and Initial Exchange Offerings (IEOs) with careful consideration of the Capital Markets Act and its potential application to tokenized equity, debt, and hybrid products. We also advise on stablecoin structures and tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), ensuring compliance with securities, corporate, and foreign investment regulations.
Because both fiat and digital asset flows are regulated under the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act, cross-border investments, token sales, and remittances require careful structuring. We assist clients in reporting obligations, investment approvals, and designing settlement models that withstand regulatory scrutiny while supporting business scalability.
We advise on compliance and risk management for DeFi protocols, staking services, NFT marketplaces, custodians, and wallet providers. Our work includes smart contract risk reviews, consumer protection measures, and regulatory engagement strategies with the Financial Services Commission (FSC), Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), and other authorities.
As blockchain systems increasingly intersect with AI analytics, personal data, and financial profiling, compliance with the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and sector-specific regulations becomes critical. We advise on lawful data sourcing, algorithmic transparency, and the use of sensitive information in blockchain-driven AI platforms.