Seoul Fintech Week 2026, which discusses financial service innovation using artificial intelligence and ways for fintech companies to grow, opens on Oct. 26. Financial firms including Shinhan Financial Group and IBK Industrial Bank of Korea are taking part in discovering startups, running technology proof-of-concepts and supporting fundraising. The event also includes programmes covering key digital finance issues such as financial AI agents and stablecoins.

The event will be held for three days from Oct. 26 to 28 at Conrad Seoul and the IFC area in Yeouido, the Seoul city government said on Oct. 25. Co-hosted by the Seoul city government, the Financial Supervisory Service and Shinhan Financial Group, it will run this year under the theme, "AX-based digital finance transformation: finance that knows me."

On the first day, the Seoul city government and Shinhan Financial Group will hold an awards ceremony for the Finovation Challenge, which they jointly promote. The Finovation Challenge is a cooperation programme that has operated since 2022 to apply fintech startups' technologies to financial workplaces, supporting technology proof-of-concepts and commercialisation.

This year, six companies were selected as partners: Advisorloren, Cleon, Momstay, Firstvalue, Caring and Fairytech. Of these, three outstanding companies will receive the Seoul mayor's award, the Shinhan Innovation Award and the Finovation Award.

The opening ceremony will be attended by the senior deputy governor of the Financial Supervisory Service and officials from financial firms and big tech, including Shinhan Financial Group and IBK Industrial Bank of Korea.

The keynote speech will be delivered by Won-geun Shin (신원근), CEO of Kakao Pay. Shin will introduce how financial AI agents use individuals' financial information to provide tailored services and the future direction of changes in financial services, under the theme, "A new transformation in finance, financial AI agents just for me."

Sessions will then discuss the financial sector's AI transformation strategies and how to use AI agents. Officials from the Financial Supervisory Service, the Seoul Institute, the Korea Capital Market Institute, AWS Korea and SK will take part as presenters. Officials from six member countries of the Asia FinTech Alliance, including Hong Kong and Singapore, and Britain's Z/Yen Group will also discuss ways to cooperate on global fintech.

On Oct. 27, a demo day will be held to support fintech startups' fundraising and cooperation with financial firms.

In the morning, six preselected companies will present their business models and technologies at a demo day jointly arranged by the 2nd Seoul Fintech Lab and Naver Cloud. Outstanding companies will be offered benefits including links to move into the 2nd Seoul Fintech Lab and Naver Cloud credits.

In the afternoon, the Seoul Fintech Lab and IBK Industrial Bank of Korea will jointly hold a demo day. Twelve selected startups will hold investor relations presentations for investors and financial institutions. Outstanding companies will be supported with links to move into the Seoul Fintech Lab and opportunities for technology proof-of-concepts and cooperation with the bank.

During the event, programmes will also be run to help fintech companies promote their businesses and recruit staff. About 21 companies will join promotion booths on Oct. 26 and 27 to introduce their services and technologies. In the recruitment zone, one-on-one on-site interviews will be held between job seekers and companies after prior matching.

On the final day, Oct. 28, a digital finance seminar will be held at IFC The Forum. It will discuss major technological changes in the financial industry and future development directions under themes including "Agentic AI and the future of finance" and "Tokenisation of finance and stablecoins."

Financial education programmes will also be offered for the general public. Sun-yeop Lee (이선엽), CEO of AFW Partners, will cover income and spending management and asset management strategies. Hyo-seok Lee (이효석), CEO of HS Academy, will explain changes in the financial environment as AI agents spread.

Hyun-woo Kim (김현우), head of the Seoul city government's Economy Office, said, "Seoul ranks seventh in the world in both overall financial competitiveness and fintech in the Global Financial Centres Index." He added, "We will support the growth of fintech companies and strengthen cooperation among financial institutions, companies and investors to develop into a global financial hub."