Bank of Korea Plans National Deposit Token Infrastructure

The Bank of Korea is moving Project Hangang toward commercialization, integrating deposit tokens into daily payments, transfers, and public subsidies.

The Bank of Korea (BOK) is working to transform its deposit token project into a staple of the country’s daily financial infrastructure. The goal is to utilize this technology for merchant payments, peer-to-peer transfers, and the distribution of public funds through digital wallets.

From Pilot Project to National Infrastructure

Recent actions by the central bank indicate that the initiative is entering a commercialization phase. Known as “Project Hangang,” the initiative is shifting from a mere testing environment into the foundation for future digital payments.

According to local media and banking sector representatives, the infrastructure is already being integrated with the core accounting systems of leading Korean banks. Financial institutions are developing necessary blockchain modules and digital wallets for both consumers and merchants within cloud-based testing environments.

Payments, Transfers, and Government Subsidies

The central bank’s vision extends beyond traditional card payments. The new system is designed to support direct transfers between users, automated payments via smart contracts, and the distribution of government aid and social programs.

Regulators see particular value in programmable payments. This functionality allows funds to be restricted to specific purposes or released automatically once pre-defined conditions are met.

Such capabilities could be applied to government subsidies and the corporate sector, where payment automation remains a high priority.

Banking Sector Warns of Risks

Despite this progress, the project faces some resistance from commercial banks. Industry representatives warn that transitioning to real-world implementation requires massive investment and the creation of entirely new infrastructure.

Banks are calling for a more flexible schedule and a clearer distribution of costs for building the system. Sector participants suggest the central bank is setting ambitious deadlines without fully clarifying the mechanism for funding these technological upgrades.

The Race for the Future of Money

The South Korean model follows a two-tier structure: the Bank of Korea manages the base CBDC infrastructure, while commercial banks issue deposit tokens to end-users.

The project is viewed as a strategic initiative to modernize the national payment system and maintain the competitiveness of the won amidst the accelerating digitalization of global finance.

If the rollout succeeds, South Korea could become one of the first major economies to utilize central bank digital infrastructure for daily payments on a large commercial scale.