Why Seoul?

Domestic financial industry

Domestic Financial Environment

Seoul Financial Hub

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Seoul Financial Hub

Why Seoul?

Global Financial Hub

Seoul as a financial center

Seoul's Global Financial Center Index (GFCI) Ranking Trend

The Global Financial Centers Index (GFCI) is an index that publishes rankings of financial centers around the world. The first index was published in 2007 and since then it is published twice a year, once in March and once in September.

Division ’18.3 ’18.9 ’19.3 ’19.9 ’20.3 ’20.9 ‘21.3 ‘21.9 ’22.3 ’22.9 ’23.3 ’23.9 ’24.3
Ranking 27 33 36 36 33 25 16 13 12 11 10 11 10
Division Ranking
’18.3 27
’18.9 33
’19.3 36
’19.9 36
’20.3 33
’20.9 25
‘21.3 16
‘21.9 13
’22.3 12
’22.9 11
’23.3 10
’23.9 11
’24.3 10
Advantages of Seoul's financial industry
  • Advantages of Seoul's financial industry

    - Five consecutive years at the top of the UN e-Government Survey. UN-Rutgers University(SPAA) 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, and
    Rutgers University only in 2011, 2013, 2015

    - 3rd out of 126 cities in terms of financial infrastructure International Financial Centers Index (GFCI), Z/Yen, 2021

  • The size of the public offering is rapidly expanding in the IPO market.

    - Maintaining increasing scale of more than 10 trillion won in IPO public offering Service of Financial Supervision, 2022

    - Analysis of the IPO market trends shows the highest-ever IPO amount(19.7 trillion won). Service of Financial Supervision, 2022

  • One of the three biggest pension funds in the world by size is the National Pension Fund of the Republic of Korea.
  • In comparison to the rest of the globe, the level of financial knowledge among market participants in the domestic financial industry is very high.

    - Additionally, the national financial comprehension scored 66.5 out of 100, which is 62 points higher than the average score across the 10 OECD nations.
    Financial Supervisory Service, 2022 Financial Understanding Survey

  • The startup market is expanding and receiving more assistance, which has led to an increase in the number of unicorn businesses.

    - In just ten years, the amount of the investment association has more than multiplied by ten, reaching over KRW 10.7 trillion.
    Current state of small and medium-sized businesses and venture investment associations. Korea Venture Capital Association, 2022.

    - According to small and medium-sized businesses and venture investment associations. the status of domestic unicorn firms for 2022,
    there are now 22 domestic unicorn companies, an increase of 5 from the previous year.

  • Innovative financial services can be used to create and support financial services embracing new technology based on the financial regulatory sandbox.

    - The Korean government passed the Special Act on Financial Innovation Support on April 1.

  • The fourth industrial technology, which is focused on digital communication and is the foundation of the fintech sector, has outstanding infrastructure in Seoul.

    - #28 of 238 cities in terms of fintech Findexable's Global Fintech Index for 2020

  • The financial hub of Korea, with its many financial institutions and networking opportunities, is Yeouido in particular.
Seoul culture and environment
  • Seoul is acting as a global center that connects not just Asia but the entire world.
  • Seoul is home to 134 missions. Ministry of Foreign Affairs address book for diplomatic posts in Korea, 2022
  • Seoul has 410 international school classes in total. Statistics about Seoul's Foreign Schools from the Ministry of Education, 2021
    With 48 active universities, funding for education is made simple. Universities, the National Statistical Office 2022
  • Numerous groups for immigrants and foreign residents can help resolve the inconveniences of daily living.