As the Bank of Korea's central bank digital currency (CBDC) demonstration project 'Project Han River' prepares for its second phase, the Electronic Times reported that a total of 8 public petitions against the introduction of CBDC have accumulated 420,000 signatures. Notably, as the BOK announced the progress of the second phase test, 150,000 people called for a re-collection of opinions over three occasions in July and August this year. The petitioner of a public consent petition uploaded at the end of August claimed that measures for protecting personal information and citizens' rights must be transparently disclosed upon CBDC introduction. Concerns were raised that if CBDC is introduced, all fund flows could be recorded in the central bank system, potentially exposing all personal information.
