South Korea Digital Won
Bank of Korea
Status
Metrics
Architecture
Cross-Border Projects
No cross-border projects reported.
Capabilities
Frequently Asked Questions
Does South Korea have a CBDC?
Yes, South Korea is developing South Korea Digital Won, currently in pilot phase.
What is the status of South Korea's CBDC?
South Korea Digital Won is in pilot phase as of 2026-02-17. The pilot program is actively testing with real users.
When did South Korea launch its CBDC pilot?
No pilot launch date has been announced yet. The project is currently in pilot phase.
How many people use South Korea's CBDC?
As of 2025-04-20, South Korea Digital Won has 51,766 wallets/users.
Is South Korea's CBDC retail or wholesale?
South Korea Digital Won is a retail CBDC designed for public use in everyday transactions.
Which central bank manages South Korea Digital Won?
South Korea Digital Won is managed by Bank of Korea.
Recent Developments
According to the Bank of Korea, Project Hangang pilot ran from April 1 to June 30, 2025, with 100,000 planned participants. By April 20, 2025, 51,766 wallets had been opened and 29,251 transactions completed. The pilot used deposit tokens converted from bank deposits for real purchases at 7-Eleven and Ediya Coffee stores. Wallet limits were set at maximum 1 million won ($689) per wallet and 5 million won ($3,445) total. The BOK-issued wholesale CBDC was held only by participating banks for interbank settlements. Originally planned for Q4 2024 but postponed, Phase 1 completed successfully. Phase 2 was planned for October 2025 but suspended in July 2025 due to private sector costs and stablecoin focus. According to BOK Governor Rhee Chang-yong on August 28, 2025, revival was discussed for government subsidies. By late 2025, BOK notified banks of second-phase preparations. Seven banks were authorized for sandbox tests following a November 2024 MOU with the Financial Services Commission and Ministry of Science and ICT. The design avoids direct BOK access to user data for privacy protection.
Updated: 2/17/2026