Lawmakers from South Korea’s ruling and opposition parties used the D-CON 2026 event in Seoul to call for a broader legal framework for digital assets, arguing that repeated debates over taxation are no longer enough for a fast-changing market.

Speakers from both camps said the next phase should combine investor safeguards with room for business innovation. Their remarks pointed to a bipartisan push for legislation that would address the industry more comprehensively than the current focus on tax postponements.

Bipartisan call at D-CON 2026

The appeal came on Nov. 10 at D-CON 2026, held at the Fairmont Ambassador Seoul in Yeouido. Participants included People Power Party floor leader Chung Jeom-sik, Democratic Party lawmakers Baek Hye-ryeon and Park Sung-joon, and Kim Sung-won, who chairs the National Assembly’s Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee.

Despite party differences, the lawmakers broadly agreed that South Korea needs faster regulatory reform for the digital-asset sector. They framed the issue as one of keeping pace with industry development while building rules that can protect users and support new business activity.

From tax delay to a wider legal structure

Chung said the expansion of digital assets is already influencing financial services and business models, while other countries are speeding up legal and regulatory efforts to strengthen their positions. Against that backdrop, he said a draft Digital Asset Framework Act would be unveiled this month.

He also argued that tax standards should reflect actual market conditions so that investors and companies are not subjected to excessive burdens. The message was not limited to taxation itself, but to the need for a wider policy structure that matches the realities of the sector.

Lawmakers outline policy priorities

Kim said delaying digital-asset taxation was the right short-term decision, but described a framework law as the necessary next step. He pointed to several ideas already in discussion, including legislation to establish that framework, permission for multiple real-name accounts, and the creation of a regulatory sandbox.

He called for cross-party talks and for those policy proposals to be carried out quickly. His comments placed the tax issue within a larger legislative agenda rather than treating postponement as a final solution.

Protection, trust and competitiveness

Baek said industry growth depends on user protection and market confidence. While she said the Virtual Asset User Protection Act had created an initial base, she argued that legislation has not kept up with financial innovations such as tokenization and stablecoins.

She called for regulation that is safe but still flexible enough to allow innovation, saying that balance is needed if South Korea wants to improve its global competitiveness. Park made a similar case from a broader strategic angle, saying the country should aim to lead the global digital-asset market by building on its technology base and talent pool.

What comes next

The clearest near-term step mentioned at the event was Chung’s statement that a draft Digital Asset Framework Act will be released this month. Beyond that, the lawmakers’ remarks indicated that the coming debate is likely to center on how to pair stronger legal clarity and user protections with measures intended to give the domestic digital-asset industry more room to develop.

For now, the significance of the discussion lies in the bipartisan alignment behind moving beyond tax delays toward a more comprehensive digital-asset rulebook.

Source: en.bloomingbit.io