Chainlink has formed a strategic partnership with LG CNS, the artificial intelligence transformation and IT services division of South Korean conglomerate LG Group, aimed at strengthening the infrastructure behind the country’s $68 billion cryptocurrency market.
The companies said their initial focus would be the wider use and distribution of Korean won-linked stablecoins. The developing market already has more than 11 million eligible users, according to the announcement.
Stablecoins are digital assets designed to maintain a stable value, often by being linked to a traditional currency. In South Korea, however, there is currently no clear legal basis for the commercial issuance or trading of stablecoins tied to the won.
The South Korean government and lawmakers are working on the Digital Asset Basic Act, which is expected to establish rules for won stablecoins alongside other standards for the wider digital asset industry.
Under the partnership, LG CNS will also incorporate Chainlink’s cross-chain, data and orchestration infrastructure into digital asset platform solutions intended for Korean institutions.
The two companies said they would combine their respective expertise to support the development of South Korea’s digital asset framework. Their work will extend beyond stablecoins to include tokenised securities and wider institutional applications.
“Korea’s financial infrastructure is entering the tokenization era. LG CNS is committed to leading this transition, and together with Chainlink, we aim to accelerate the growth of Korea’s tokenized securities market by enabling secure interoperability and real-world data, while creating a foundation for global expansion,” Hongkeun Kim, executive vice president and head of digital business division at LG CNS, said in the announcement.
Chainlink operates a decentralised oracle network, linking blockchain-based smart contracts with real-world information and external systems. Its infrastructure provides data feeds, interoperability between different blockchains and orchestration tools.
Those services are primarily used in decentralised finance, real-world asset tokenisation and institutional digital asset platforms.
LG CNS is the lead contractor for Project Hangang, the Bank of Korea’s flagship digital currency initiative. The partnership with Chainlink adds to its role in developing South Korea’s digital asset infrastructure.
LG Group is among South Korea’s largest business groups. It has around 186 trillion won ($140.5 billion) in assets spread across 63 affiliates, while the combined market capitalisation of its subsidiaries is more than $100 billion.
The agreement comes as South Korea works towards a formal regulatory framework for digital assets, including the possible commercialisation of won-linked stablecoins.
