South Korean technological holding SK Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ConsenSys for blockchain business cooperation, according to a SK Group official press release published today, Dec. 4. SK Holdings C&C is the information technology solutions arm of the SK Group, one of the the largest conglomerates in South Korea. The entity has partnered with ConsenSys, an Ethereum (ETH) software technology company based in U.S., to create and develop an “enterprise blockchain development hub.” The MoU is aimed at building an enterprise blockchain business model by using smart contracts, the press release notes, adding: “The two companies …

South Korea's Finance Ministry is considering taxation on cryptocurrencies and Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), daily English-language newspaper The Korea Times reports Monday, Dec. 3. Hong Nam-ki, South Korea’s new Minister of Economy and Finance as well as new Deputy Prime Minister, revealed that а crypto taxation plan will be finalized according to global taxation trends in the industry. Pointing to the current ICO ban in South Korea, the deputy prime minister stated that the authorities will also form a new stance to the crypto industry, based on careful consideration of “market conditions, international trends and investor protection issues.” In his …

Kakao, South Korea’s largest internet conglomerate that operates applications and have nearly a 90 percent dominance in their respective markets, is running an Initial Coin Offering (ICO) to raise funds for its blockchain project called Clay. In March, Kakao released its initial attempt to conduct a token sale by establishing an entity in Switzerland. But, with resistance from the Financial Services Commission (FSC), the corporation was not able to pursue its plans. With no changes made to the regulatory framework regarding ICOs in South Korea, how has Kakao been able to raise funds to create a blockchain project? Private Sale …

The CEO of cybersecurity firm Cuvepia declared that his company detected over 30 attacks on crypto-bearing individuals probably carried out by North Korean hackers, English-language media site South China Morning Post reports Nov. 29. Kwon Seok-Chul, the CEO of the aforementioned South Korean cybersecurity company, said that the new targets of the suspected North Korean cyberattacks “are just simple wallet users investing in cryptocurrency.” He then added that many cases probably haven’t been detected, and that there may have been well over 100 attacks. As the article states, the “targeting of individuals holding virtual currencies such as Bitcoin (BTC) marks …

The South Korean government is considering using blockchain technology for an electronic voting system, business technology news website ZDNet reports Nov. 28. The Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Election Commission (NEC) plan to jointly test the implementation of blockchain technology within the online voting system. The trial period has been scheduled for next month, and will be conducted by the Korea Internet and Security Agency (KISA) together with Seoul National University's Blockchain Society. The article notes that blockchain tech will be implemented in “voter authentication and result saving,” specifying: “Voting will be conducted via mobile and personal …

The satellite operator owned by South Korea’s largest telecommunications company KT Corporation is exploring blockchain, local newspaper EDaily reports Friday, Nov. 23. KT SAT, which is reportedly Korea’s sole satellite communication operator with 50 years of satellite expertise, has set up a working group to address the use of major emerging technologies, including blockchain, in order to expand the existing limits of the satellite industry. Announced yesterday, Nov. 22, at the company’s event “2018 KT SAT Partners Day,” the new initiative, dubbed KT SAT Eco Alliance, aims to bring together companies focusing on such tech fields as the Internet of …

The South Korean branch of the Tezos Foundation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Yonsei University to collaboratively work on the development of blockchain talents, says a Tezos official press release published Nov. 21. The new agreement between the Tezos Korea Foundation and Digital Society Research Center at Yonsei University in Seoul aims to provide “blockchain education cooperation, training of OCaml [Objective Calm] and smart contract experts.” The MoU is primarily focused on human resources and education in the blockchain technology industry. The press release states: “Through this agreement, both sides will strengthen the expertise of the blockchain …

The South Korean government will use blockchain technology for tracing beef and providing consumers with information from the food supply chain, Yonhap News Agency, the largest news agency in South Korea, reported yesterday, Nov. 20. Blockchain technology has been implemented into the pilot program that is to be launched jointly by the Ministry of Science and ICT and Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs. The testing phase of the program is scheduled for December and the official launch of the system is to be in January 2019. According to Yonhap, the ministries are planning to use the distributed ledger …

Kakao Corp, a major South Korean Internet conglomerate, has established a subsidiary of the company in Singapore to attract foreign investments with cryptocurrencies, Seoul-based media outlet News1 reported Nov. 21. According to the article, Kakao Corp established the brainchild of Kakao subsidiary Ground X, the corporation’s blockchain platform Klaytn, in Singapore yesterday. The media outlet also states, with reference to the the Singapore Chamber of Commerce, that Kakao Corp is considering establishing another special corporation in Singapore aimed at managing the investments. In October, Kakao Corp had released Klaytn’s testnet ahead of its formal launch set for the first quarter …

Korea’s largest power provider KEPCO says it will use blockchain and other innovative energy solutions to develop its next-generation micro grid (MG), according to an official press release Nov. 19. KEPCO is a $15.9 billion market cap corporation in which the South Korean government and state-controlled bank hold a majority stake; it has a “virtual monopoly” over power generation and distribution in the country, according to Asia-focused publication Nikkei. KEPCO’s new “Open MG” will reportedly harness blockchain and other technologies to improve energy infrastructure, particularly for the local hydrogen economy. To this end, it will focus on decentralization, decarbonization and …

The Korea Radio Promotion Association (RAPA) and Jeju University have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for blockchain-related industry and education in the Jeju area, Korean economic media outlet Seoul Economic Daily reports today, Nov. 16. RAPA, the company in charge of the communication between government and radio broadcasting businesses, and Jeju University, located in one of the major research center in South Korea, the Jeju Science Park, agreed to cooperate for developing blockchain technology within industry-academia relationships. The agreement aims to establish a blockchain ecosystem in the Jeju Special Self-governing Province to exchange ideas among academia and industry specialists, …

The government of South Korea’s Gyeongbuk province has launched a “Blockchain Special Committee” with the goal of creating a blockchain hub in the region, local media outlet Daily News reported Nov. 14. North Gyeongsang Province, also known as Gyeongbuk, plans to create a blockchain hub, inviting 40 domestic and foreign experts in the industry to consult on the project. Lee Cheol-uoo – a former member of the National Assembly of South Korea and current governor of the province – explained to local media the aims of the newly established committee as attracting investment for blockchain related businesses in the region. …