South Korea will implement an amended Special Financial Information Act on Aug. 20, expanding screening of digital asset operators to include major shareholders and governance structures. An enforcement decree allows exceptions when violations are minor or punished under vicarious liability rules, easing some uncertainty around Naver Financial and Dunamu’s share-swap plan. Regulators will also tighten requirements on leverage, creditworthiness and internal controls, likely increasing compliance burdens for smaller operators.

A reform plan on duplicate listings by the Financial Services Commission and Korea Exchange takes effect from Aug. 3, raising hurdles for listing unlisted subsidiaries controlled by listed firms. Spun-off subsidiaries must obtain shareholder approval, while acquired or newly established units face tougher reviews without consent. The plan limits duplicate listings in principle, allowing exceptions only with shareholder protection measures and confirmed subsidiary independence, and imposes five duties on parent boards, along with special committee review requirements.