양자기술 발전에 따른 보안 중심 금융규제 방향

Security-Centric Financial Regulatory Directions in Response to the Advancement of Quantum Technology

The advent of Quantum Technology (QT) and its application in Quantum Computing (QC) marks the next major technological frontier following Artificial Intelligence, by prompting significant investment from governments and global corporations, particularly from the financial sector. The immense data processing capabilities of QC are poised to revolutionize finance, offering new avenues for optimizing complex financial transactions and enhancing fraud detection systems. However, such technological leap simultaneously introduces a critical and urgent risk to global cybersecurity and, by extension, the stability of the financial markets. Specifically, such computational power inherent in advanced quantum systems fundamentally compromises the cryptographic algorithms which are currently used in electronic financial transactions, which may cause instability and thereby pose substantial risk across the financial ecosystem. Major countries are taking proactive actions to address such risk by initiating policy transitions toward quantum security and considering adopting Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC). These jurisdictions are actively preparing a shift in their digital infrastructure to mitigate the inevitable risk of a “Store Now, Decrypt Later” attack. In stark contrast, domestic discussions and policy preparations for this critical security transition remain relatively inactive in South Korea. Such regulatory and policy gap highlights an urgent need to adopt preemptive action to safeguard the nation’s financial integrity. Given the circumstances, this paper, therefore, examines the current legal and regulatory framework in South Korea related to cryptographic systems in electronic finance, identifies specific legislative deficiencies, and proposes concrete measures to overcome such risks. To effectively manage the rapid technological shifts characteristic of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, this paper will focus how South Korea should align with international trends by prioritizing a regulatory approach centered on soft law and non-binding guidelines, rather than imposing rigid, strict legal regulations. Furthermore, the paper will emphasize the importance of adopting a purposive (teleological) interpretation of existing and future laws to ensure regulatory frameworks remain agile and relevant in the face of continuous technological evolution. Based on such legislative and interpretive foundations, the paper aims to stress the necessity for South Korea to actively engage with major international stakeholders and foreign countries as such international cooperation is crucial not only for collectively strengthening global financial cybersecurity but also for reducing the risk of regulatory fragmentation in a complex and interconnected quantum security landscape.