South Korea's Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF) announced plans during a Wednesday briefing at the President's Blue House to adopt the National Asset Basic Act, updating the country's state asset management system from the outdated State Property Act of 1950. The new framework explicitly includes digital assets and intellectual property, broadening the definition of state assets. The move represents a significant regulatory development for South Korea, which has one of the world's most active retail crypto markets, shifting management from a legacy real estate-focused framework to a value creation model.
South Korea Plans Tokenization of Government Bonds and Real Estate
The ministry reiterated plans to tokenize government bonds on a blockchain to reduce transaction costs as part of a 2027 pilot project. The initiative also includes plans to explore the tokenization of state-owned real estate to encourage retail participation and share part of the generated returns with the public.
![Report from South Korea's Ministry of Finance and Economy]()
Report from South Korea's Ministry of Finance and Economy. Source: mofe.go.kr
CBDC Pilot and Blockchain Economy Framework Set for 2027
On Tuesday, South Korea's government unveiled its 2026 Economic Growth Strategy for the Second Half, which includes plans to conduct a 2027 pilot linking tokenized government bonds to its central bank digital currency (CBDC) infrastructure. The plan calls for authorities to study how to make the Bank of Korea's (BOK) CBDC infrastructure interoperable with other blockchains. The idea was first outlined publicly on July 1 by BOK Governor Hyun Song Shin at the European Central Bank Forum on Central Banking. Authorities plan to introduce measures later this year and stated the pilot would form part of a broader effort to create a "blockchain economy."
On April 16, South Korea's MOEF announced a pilot project that will use tokenized deposits to execute government operational spending, with a full rollout set for the fourth quarter of 2026.
Securities Framework Changes Take Effect February 4, 2027
Changes to South Korea Capital Markets Act and Electronic Securities Act, the country's first tokenized securities framework, are scheduled to take full effect on Feb. 4, 2027. The framework will legally recognize blockchain-ledgers as valid securities registries, bringing tokenized assets under the Financial Services Commission's jurisdiction out of their current experimental stage.
FAQ
What did South Korea's Ministry of Economy and Finance announce on Wednesday?
The MOEF announced plans to adopt the National Asset Basic Act during a briefing at the President's Blue House on Wednesday, updating the country's state asset management system from the State Property Act of 1950. The new framework explicitly includes digital assets and intellectual property in the definition of state assets.
When will South Korea's tokenized securities framework take full effect?
Changes to South Korea Capital Markets Act and Electronic Securities Act are scheduled to take full effect on Feb. 4, 2027. The framework will legally recognize blockchain-ledgers as valid securities registries, bringing tokenized assets under the Financial Services Commission's jurisdiction.
What blockchain initiatives did South Korea announce for 2027?
South Korea announced plans to conduct a 2027 pilot linking tokenized government bonds to its CBDC infrastructure and to tokenize government bonds on a blockchain as part of a 2027 pilot project. Authorities stated these initiatives form part of a broader effort to create a "blockchain economy."
