Seo Yoo-seok, Head of the Korea Financial Investment Association: "Bitcoin ETF Should Be Listed in Korea This Year"

2025 Press Corps New Year Meeting

"ETF Suitable for All Stages of Virtual Asset Investment"

"At Least Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs Should Be Launched"

"Satisfied with Didim Fund Performance... Efforts to Expand Default Options"

Actively Proposing 'Junior ISA' Introduction to Authorities

Seo Yoo-seok, Head of the Korea Financial Investment Association. /Photo=Jin Young-ki Reporter

"This year, we should introduce spot ETFs based on Bitcoin and Ethereum in the domestic stock market."

Seo Yoo-seok, head of the Korea Financial Investment Association, strongly expressed his intention to launch ETFs based on major virtual assets on the 5th. With the election of Donald Trump, who has shown a pro-virtual asset stance, as the President of the United States, financial authorities are re-evaluating the activation of the virtual asset industry and the launch of related ETFs, which they have been cautious about.

At the '2025 Press Corps New Year Meeting' held at the Korea Financial Investment Association in Yeouido, Seoul, Seo said, "In the second Trump administration, there is even talk of making Bitcoin a national strategic asset," adding, "Behind Bitcoin and Ethereum is blockchain information technology (IT). There is no doubt about this technology."

He continued, "Looking at overseas cases, I wanted to say that ETFs tracking virtual assets are being introduced from the early days of the administration. However, due to the government's interpretation, it was not recognized as an asset that can be invested in under the Capital Markets Act, so it hesitated."

He stated, "Many think of virtual assets as an investment target for the MZ Generation (Millennials + Generation Z), but there is also a lot of interest and demand for virtual assets among those in their 50s and 60s," adding, "Their funds are larger than those of the MZ, but I wonder if it is right to let them go directly into virtual assets. Therefore, I believe we should list ETFs based on at least Bitcoin and Ethereum, which are recognized worldwide, in our market so that investors can invest with peace of mind." He added, "I will work hard to draw a roadmap through further discussions."

He also showed strong determination regarding the 'Didim Fund,' a specialized product for retirement funds ambitiously launched by the Korea Financial Investment Association last September.

Seo said, "The average return after launch is about 3.5%, and the top-performing funds exceed an average of 7%, which is a satisfactory result," adding, "I believe asset allocation funds will occupy a significant portion of performance-based products along with target date funds (TDF). Although it has only been about four months since its launch, the result (in terms of performance) will be the 'victory' of asset allocation funds."

He continued, "As the Didim Fund is still lacking in awareness, we will work to introduce shortcut paths in securities firms' mobile trading systems (MTS), bank sales, and further expand retirement pension default options."

Seo also announced that he would actively propose to the authorities to expand the eligibility for Individual Savings Accounts (ISA) to minors so that 'Junior ISA' can be introduced.

He emphasized, "ISA, introduced to form national assets, has established itself as a 'national financial technology account' with 5.87 million subscribers and a subscription amount of 32 trillion won."

Shin Min-kyung/Jin Young-ki Hankyung.com Reporter radio@hankyung.com