The South Korea Financial Services Commission’s Korea Financial Intelligence Unit convened 16 financial-sector bodies to agree measures strengthening anti-money laundering controls based on the national risk assessment completed at the end of 2025. Advancing its broader 2026 anti-money laundering agenda, the initiative focuses on risk assessment, governance, technology and stronger support from industry associations and central federations. Financial sectors and individual firms are expected to conduct periodic risk assessments reflecting their business models and prioritize staff, budgets and IT infrastructure according to identified vulnerabilities. The measures also encourage dedicated anti-money laundering units, more senior reporting officers and personnel with IT and data analytics expertise. Firms should adopt technologies such as artificial intelligence, diversify detection logic for split or indirect transactions and establish processes to verify data quality, particularly as weaker systems at smaller firms and in higher-risk nonbank sectors may create gaps. From the second half of 2026, each association and central federation will operate an anti-money laundering enhancement task force. Its work will cover intelligence sharing, sector-specific guidelines, common suspicious transaction reporting rules and scenarios, shared systems or audit support, practical training and consulting, and stronger inspections, sanctions and management accountability. The Korea Financial Intelligence Unit plans to support these efforts through continued improvements to training, assessment, inspection and supervision.

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