Financial Supervisory Service (FSS)
The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) is South Korea’s main financial regulator, working under the Financial Services Commission (FSC) to supervise banks, securities firms, insurance companies, and forex-related financial institutions. While direct retail forex brokerage is tightly restricted in South Korea, the FSS oversees licensed firms offering derivatives, currency hedging products, and institutional FX services.
South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) enforces a highly regulated environment for forex and derivatives trading. With a focus on institutional and risk-hedging use cases, retail margin trading is tightly restricted. Investors should only deal with FSS-licensed financial institutions and be cautious of offshore platforms targeting Korean residents.
- Supervises institutions offering FX-related derivatives and currency hedging services
- Regulates OTC and exchange-traded FX products via authorized securities and investment firms
- Enforces capital requirements, risk management, and compliance rules
- Maintains a registry of licensed firms and public enforcement actions
- Visit the FSS Consumer Portal
- Navigate to “List of Financial Institutions” or use the Financial Consumer Information System (FCIS)
- Confirm authorization and regulated activities
- Licensed entities must:
- Comply with AML/CFT reporting
- Maintain capital adequacy and internal control systems
- Provide clear disclosures and product risk assessments
- Dispute resolution via the Financial Dispute Mediation Committee
Country
South Korea
Established
1999
Contact
+82 2 3145 5114
Complaint bodies
Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), Financial Dispute Mediation Committee – for consumer issues, Financial Intelligence Unit (KoFIU) – for AML enforcement
Hotline
+82 2 3145 5114
Complaint email
Last updated on: April 08, 2025
High Risk Warning : Please note that foreign exchange and other leveraged trading involves significant risk of loss. It is not suitable for all investors and you should make sure you understand the risks involved, seeking independent advice if necessary.