South Korea's Central Bank Recruits Crypto Experts, Targets CBDC Pilot in 2026

The Bank of Korea (BOK) has officially opened large-scale recruitment for digital assets market analyst positions to revive its central bank digital currency (CBDC) project. This move is being taken in preparation for new regulations that will lift the ban on cryptocurrency and stablecoin issuance in South Korea. Applicants are required to have a minimum of five years of experience in the cryptocurrency industry.

This recruitment also marks the reboot of "Project Hangang," a CBDC initiative that is now more focused on business and government needs. The South Korean government itself has an ambitious target to distribute 25% of subsidies through digital won by 2030. If on schedule, BOK will begin pilot testing of this CBDC payment system in the first half of 2026.

BOK stated that the infrastructure built through Project Hangang could serve as a foundation for commercial banks or technology companies to issue stablecoins pegged to the Won. Rather than competing, the central bank sees strong synergy between CBDC and private stablecoins in the national payment system in the future.