'The essence of finance does not change even as technology advances'

KB Kookmin Bank extends real-name account partnership with Bithumb by one year

Seo Ki-won, executive vice president of KB Kookmin Bank's management planning group, delivers a presentation at the "Next Finance Korea 2026" conference held Monday at the Westin Seoul Parnas. [KB Kookmin Bank]
Seo Ki-won, executive vice president of KB Kookmin Bank's management planning group, delivers a presentation at the "Next Finance Korea 2026" conference held Monday at the Westin Seoul Parnas. [KB Kookmin Bank]

KB Kookmin Bank said Tuesday it co-hosted the "Next Finance Korea 2026" conference with Kakao Group.

The event, held Monday, drew about 150 domestic and international figures from the digital asset and financial industries to discuss the direction of the rapidly evolving digital asset market and strengthen networks among participants.

Seo Ki-won, executive vice president of KB Kookmin Bank's management planning group, and Lee Sang-ryul, head of the bank's digital transformation division, served as keynote speaker and panel discussant, respectively, emphasizing that trust remains the essence of finance even in the emerging digital asset market.

"Even as technology advances, the fundamental nature of finance — that customers must be able to entrust their assets with confidence — does not change," Seo said.

He added that the bank aims to "extend the trust KB has built into the digital sphere and, together with our partners, create a new financial infrastructure that connects the issuance and distribution of digital value."

Lee, speaking in the panel session, described the digital asset market as "a field of opportunity that generates new financial demand," and said banks would take on a core "trust layer" role covering reserve asset management and anti-money laundering functions.

A KB Kookmin Bank official said the bank would "proactively respond to the paradigm shift and establish itself as a financial institution that customers continue to choose in the coming digital asset era."

KB Kookmin Bank also extended its real-name deposit and withdrawal account partnership with Bithumb by one year on Monday.


hyuk@heraldcorp.com