South Korea plans to allow exchanges and fintech companies to participate in the overseas remittance system for virtual assets

According to South Korean media SBS Biz, South Korea is considering allowing various parties, including exchanges and fintech companies, to participate in the upcoming virtual asset overseas remittance business system. This system is expected to be implemented in December this year. Relevant individuals revealed that the government has recently begun drafting the implementation rules for amendments to the Foreign Exchange Transaction Act and is reviewing the registration requirements for virtual asset transfer businesses.

The core content of the amendment is to include cross-border virtual asset transfers within the regulatory framework of the Foreign Exchange Transaction Act, defining it as "virtual asset transfer business." Companies intending to engage in virtual asset transfer business must register with the Office of the Minister of Economy and Finance of South Korea and report relevant information through the foreign exchange computer network of the Bank of Korea when cross-border transfer transactions occur. Previously, cross-border virtual asset transactions had been outside the foreign exchange regulatory framework, raising concerns that these transactions could be used for illegal foreign exchange trading or money laundering activities. This system improvement aims to incorporate virtual asset transfer transactions into the management and regulatory system.