South Korea Pilots CBDC as Crypto Reshapes Job Market

• South Korea is launching a pilot project to utilize CBDCs for education and welfare vouchers.
• The Ministry of Science and ICT, FSC, and the Bank of Korea have signed an MOU.
• The project addresses the current voucher system limitations like high transaction fees, slow processes & fraud risks.

South Korea is launching a CBDC pilot project with plans to use central bank digital currencies for education and welfare vouchers. This initiative is a collaboration between the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Financial Services Commission (FSC), and the Bank of Korea.

The project partners signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to assess the feasibility of CBDC-based deposit tokens as vouchers for education, culture, and welfare. The project will address limitations of the current voucher system, such as high transaction fees, slow processes, and fraud risks. With the CBDC project, the government aims to create a more convenient and secure system.

Read also: South Korea’s Virtual Asset Committee to Tackle Corporate Crypto Investment

Currently, government vouchers require citizens to use physical cards or paper coupons. This new initiative will move away from traditional physical vouchers, allowing citizens to redeem government benefits by scanning QR codes on their mobile devices.

Reportedly, seven South Korean banks have expressed interest in participating in the pilot: KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Woori, Hana, IBK, NH, and Busan. The FSC has granted approval to issue deposit tokens with deposit protection mechanisms.

Crypto’s Rise Impacts South Korea’s Job Market

In other news, local reports show that South Korea’s job market is undergoing a significant shift due to the rise of crypto. The country’s younger generation is choosing Bitcoin trading strategies over traditional employment. Data from different recruitment sites shows an increase in job applications from those aged 40-59, while job seekers aged 20-39 have declined. The reports also indicate that people over 50 are seeking short-term jobs in their retirement.

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