In his inaugural address, Bank of Korea Governor Shin Hyun-song emphasized the importance of central bank digital currencies and bank-issued deposit tokens, omitting any reference to stablecoins as the country considers new cryptocurrency regulations. Shin, who began his term on Tuesday, highlighted the bank's participation in Project Hangang, a retail CBDC and deposit-token pilot, and Project Agorá, a cross-border tokenization initiative led by the Bank for International Settlements. He positioned digital currency as a key component of a broader shift in central banking, particularly during a period of economic strain and slower domestic growth.
Notably, Shin's remarks did not mention stablecoins, a topic that has been at the forefront of policy discussions in Seoul, with lawmakers considering the Digital Asset Basic Act, which would establish guidelines for stablecoin issuance. Previously, Shin had suggested that stablecoins could coexist with CBDCs and deposit tokens in a complementary and competitive manner.
His speech outlined a bank-led model, where the central bank would issue a CBDC, and commercial banks would provide deposit tokens that can be fully converted into it. Shin has argued that any stablecoin issuance should originate from regulated banks. In addition to payments, Shin indicated that the central bank would increase its scrutiny of crypto markets and non-bank finance, expanding its monitoring of cryptocurrencies and other non-traditional assets, and seeking greater access to data to track financial risks. Furthermore, Shin pledged to modernize currency markets, including the introduction of 24-hour foreign exchange trading and an offshore won settlement system.