Expectations are rising that talks on a basic law for digital assets will resume after South Korea’s June 3 local elections, but passage this year remains uncertain. Review depends on finalising the National Assembly’s second-half leadership and restructuring the political affairs committee. The government’s proposal is seen as a key variable and could revive disputes over exchange shareholder limits and won-based stablecoin issuance. Industry and regulators remain divided over priorities.

With the June 3 local elections over, attention in South Korea’s financial sector is shifting back to financial authorities and the National Assembly. Issues that lost traction during the campaign, including governance reform at financial holding firms, digital asset regulation, loan rules for non-resident single-homeowners and a compensation liability system for voice phishing, may return to the agenda in the second half. Regulators have also adjusted ELS sanctions and stepped up work on consumer protection and AI security threats.