Discussions are gaining pace in South Korea on enacting a Basic Financial Security Act to guarantee financial access for low-income and low-credit groups. A policy forum in parliament reviewed legal and policy tasks, outcomes of existing programmes, overseas systems and potential economic and social effects. Proposals call for expanding policy-based finance beyond funding to link counselling, debt adjustment, recovery, self-reliance and asset building through a one-stop support system.

South Korea\'s financial authorities expanded the scope of eased network separation rules for AI use to secondary financial institutions and electronic financial business operators. The number of firms to be selected rises to as many as 15, and eligibility thresholds are lowered. Selected institutions can use external AI and security SaaS after putting alternative controls in place. Industry expectations are mixed, with some firms cautious. Global fintech investment rose to $103.1 billion in the first half, with focus expected to shift to AI and financial infrastructure.