South Korea To Unveil Stringent Rules for Digital Assets, Here’s All

As a seasoned crypto investor with extensive experience in the South Korean digital asset market, I welcome the impending enactment of the Virtual Asset User Protection Act. The regulatory clarity this legislation brings to the NFT sector is long overdue and will significantly enhance protection for investors like myself.


The upcoming implementation of the Korean Virtual Asset Protection Act signifies a major change in regulatory control over South Korea’s digital asset sector. This new law intends to apply strict guidelines for businesses dealing with non-interchangeable token (NFT) issuance, categorized as virtual assets.

To enhance scrutiny and safeguards in the rapidly growing Non-Fungible Token (NFT) sector, this legislation focuses on NFTs with expansive minting, divisible nature, and functionality as a form of payment. The objective is to promote increased supervision and security. By requiring businesses to disclose their activities to regulatory bodies, the bill intends to foster greater openness and adherence to regulations within the digital asset trading community.

Detailed Guidelines and Implementation of the Act

As an analyst, I’m excited to share that starting July 19, South Korea will enter a new phase of regulatory certainty for non-fungible tokens (NFTs) with the implementation of the Virtual Asset User Protection Act. The Financial Services Commission has recently issued detailed guidelines outlining the conditions under which NFTs will be categorized as virtual assets.

As a researcher investigating the regulatory landscape of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), I’ve discovered that not all NFTs are subject to virtual asset regulations. Those serving as collectibles or content tokens do not fall under this category. However, NFTs with securities attributes or acting as means of payment come under close scrutiny from regulatory bodies.

Compliance and Reporting Obligations for NFT Operators

Operators dealing with NFTs are at a crucial juncture regarding regulatory compliance following the release of detailed guidelines. The initial action requires a careful examination to determine if the specific NFTs can be categorized as digital assets.

If an NFT (Non-Fungible Token) qualifies under this category, it is crucial for operators to examine their business dealings carefully to identify if they involve trading, exchanging, transferring, storing, brokering, or mediating transactions of NFTs. The Financial Information Act requires reporting of these activities as virtual asset operations to prevent potential criminal penalties. Operators facing uncertainty about the classification of NFTs are advised to consult financial regulatory bodies for clarification. Detailed examples will be provided to help guide judgment in specific cases.

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2024-06-10 12:38