Korean securities firms launch character webtoons to attract young stock investors. 2026-10-01 23:46:37 Key takeaways. * iM Securities and Hanwha Investment & Securities launched character-driven webtoon series on Instagram to attract younger investors. * iM Securities introduced 'Imhaemjji' character with webtoon episodes and 'iM Lenz' podcast content on YouTube for engagement. * Hanwha Investment & Securities collaborated with Upbit to create approximately 10 pieces of digital asset content connecting character universes. Korean securities firms iM Securities and Hanwha Investment & Securities launched character-driven webtoon series on Instagram to engage younger investors, with iM Securities introducing its 'Imhaemjji' character and Hanwha debuting 'Jarami' in last May. The firms shifted from traditional research reports to relatable storytelling formats as younger demographics increasingly dominate stock market participation. This content strategy targets potential investors in their 20s and 30s by lowering the formal image of financial institutions and expanding customer touchpoints through digital platforms including Instagram and YouTube. iM Securities deploys webtoon series and podcast content. iM Securities operates the 'iM_' webtoon series on its official Instagram account featuring the character 'Imhaemjji.' The character embodies the brand message "whether you're a first-time investor or a continuing one, always with iM." The webtoon depicts a new employee's perspective in Yeouido securities district through 4-8 panel episodes, starting with Episode 1 titled "Commute" and focusing on workplace experiences relatable to new employees and young professionals. The series emphasizes daily life and emotions of young professionals rather than foregrounding investment information directly. iM Securities also diversified content on YouTube through the podcast-format 'iM Lenz,' launched in last July, where research center analysts discuss investment topics including physical AI and pharmaceuticals. The firm produces both full-length episodes and short-form clips to accommodate different content consumption preferences. Hanwha Investment & Securities partners with Upbit for digital asset content. Hanwha Investment & Securities has serialized 'Jarami and Friends' on its official Instagram since last May, featuring a squirrel character named 'Jarami' who represents novice investors good at collecting acorns but forgetting where they stored them. The character learns financial knowledge by meeting various forest friends throughout the series. The firm recently expanded content scope to digital assets by featuring 'Umbit,' the character from Upbit (a digital asset exchange operated by Dunamu), in its webtoons. The two companies plan to jointly publish approximately 10 pieces of content connecting their character universes to deliver digital asset information. A Hanwha Investment & Securities representative stated, "We planned this collaboration so customers can approach digital assets more familiarly," adding the firm will "discover various cooperation opportunities leveraging both companies' strengths with this content collaboration as a starting point." Hanwha Investment & Securities intends to connect this content collaboration with future digital asset business, exploring additional partnership opportunities with Dunamu aligned with its vision as a "digital asset-specialized securities firm" and "Global No.1 RWA Hub." Securities firms target younger investors through character IP. Securities firms invest in character-based and short-form webtoon content because the investor base is getting younger, making it difficult to expand customer touchpoints through traditional research reports or financial product advertisements alone. The approach prioritizes relatable characters and narratives to increase brand recognition and convert audiences into future investment customers rather than unilaterally delivering financial information. An iM Securities representative stated, "We sought to broaden touchpoints with the younger generation by telling the experiences of young professionals through the Imhaemjji character," adding the firm will "expand touchpoints with investors through various content so iM Securities can naturally become a brand by investors' side." According to the financial investment industry on the 2nd, these content strategies reflect a broader shift in how securities firms communicate with potential clients. Faq. What characters did Korean securities firms create for their Instagram webtoons? iM Securities created 'Imhaemjji,' a character representing both first-time and continuing investors. Hanwha Investment & Securities introduced 'Jarami,' a squirrel character symbolizing novice investors who collect acorns but forget where they stored them. Hanwha also features 'Umbit' from Upbit in collaborative content focused on digital assets. Why are securities firms using webtoons to reach younger investors? Securities firms adopted character-based webtoons because the investor base is getting younger and traditional research reports or financial product advertisements no longer effectively expand customer touchpoints. The firms use relatable characters and narratives to lower the formal image of financial institutions, increase brand recognition among people in their 20s and 30s, and convert audiences into future investment customers through natural engagement rather than direct information delivery. Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third-party sources and is for reference only. It does not represent the views or opinions of Gate and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Virtual asset trading involves high risk. Please do not rely solely on the information on this page when making decisions. For details, see the Disclaimer.

SCAN2026 attracts 416 teams from 46 countries: "blockchain forensics is key technology to protect virtual assets" By: www.digitalasset.works | 10/01/2026 03:15:00 Trade global markets with WEEX: Crypto · Stocks · Gold · ETFs Start with 0.1 USDT On the 1st, Oh Kyung-seok, CEO of Dunamu, is presenting at the 'SCAN2026' awards ceremony held at the Light Theater on the basement floor of Grand Walkerhill Seoul in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Source: Park Jae-yeon/Digital Asset With the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), the barriers to learning security technology are rapidly lowering, and blockchain forensics, which is responsible for on-chain data analysis and asset tracking, is gaining attention as a key security technology in the virtual asset (digital asset) ecosystem. Yoo Shin-jae, CEO of Digital Asset, and Oh Kyung-seok, CEO of Dunamu, emphasized the importance of nurturing global security talent using AI and building a cross-border network of experts at the SCAN 2026 awards ceremony. At the 'SCAN2026' awards ceremony held on the 1st at the Light Theater on the basement floor of Grand Walkerhill Seoul in Gwangjin-gu, both CEOs highlighted the importance of nurturing digital asset security talent and global cooperation. SCAN is a global competition that tests capabilities in digital asset tracking, on-chain data analysis, and blockchain forensics. Following the first competition in 2024, this year marks the second edition, aiming to discover global security talent and expand networks between countries. This year, a total of 416 teams from 46 countries participated, with 20 teams advancing to the finals. CEO Yoo assessed that the advancement of AI is rapidly changing the environment for nurturing talent in the security field. He stated, "AI has significantly lowered the barriers to learning and experimentation," adding, "We were able to confirm through this competition that teams are quickly reaching world-class levels." CEO Yoo noted that more than half of the finalists this year were participants who had received education or gained experience abroad, emphasizing that SCAN is expanding into a platform where global talents can compete and interact. He particularly mentioned the rapid pace of recent AI technology advancements, diagnosing that an environment is being created where new technologies can be learned in a much shorter time than before, enhancing the ability to solve real problems. On the 1st, Yoo Shin-jae, CEO of Digital Asset, is presenting at the 'SCAN2026' awards ceremony held at the Light Theater on the basement floor of Grand Walkerhill Seoul in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Source: Park Jae-yeon/Digital Asset CEO Yoo remarked, "AI has developed remarkably," stating, "What I am saying right now is being translated into English in real-time by AI and displayed on the screen." He predicted that as the learning environment utilizing AI expands, the process of verifying the ability to solve problems without predetermined answers will become increasingly important. He explained that SCAN can objectively verify such abilities and play a role in discovering new talents. Oh Kyung-seok, CEO of Dunamu, who attended the awards ceremony, emphasized that with the growth of the blockchain industry, the importance of security and transparency is becoming even greater. CEO Oh stated, "As the Web3 and digital asset ecosystem rapidly expands globally, the importance of security and transparency, which are the core foundations of the industry, is greater than ever." He particularly noted the differences between traditional cybersecurity and blockchain forensics. He evaluated that blockchain forensics, which goes beyond traditional cybersecurity that finds system vulnerabilities to read the flow of on-chain data and track the trajectory of assets, is the most practical and powerful shield that supports this ecosystem safely. Dunamu also stated that creating a safe and reliable digital asset market is its core value. CEO Oh expressed, "Dunamu also prioritizes creating a safe and reliable digital asset market," adding, "I deeply resonate with SCAN's intention to enhance the transparency of digital assets and nurture global security experts." Both CEOs emphasized that the competition should not be a one-time event but should develop into a network of global security talents. CEO Yoo encouraged participants, saying, "I believe that through SCAN, you will become good competitors and good friends," and expressed hope for the creation of a network where they can continue to help and support each other. He added, "Your knowledge and cooperation will play a significant role in making the digital asset ecosystem safer." CEO Oh also remarked, "You are a solid foundation for creating a healthy blockchain ecosystem," expressing hope that this competition will serve as an opportunity to create a strong security network that transcends borders, beyond just showcasing outstanding technical skills. He concluded, "In the future, Dunamu will wholeheartedly support the steps of experts like you for the development of a transparent and safe Web3 ecosystem." Light price. -3.85% Past 13 days Light is currently trading at 0.1624 USD. Over the past 13 days, Light has fallen -3.85%. Learn more about Light. This content is provided for general informational purposes only and doesn't constitute financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Any events, rewards, online promotions, or related information mentioned herein should not be considered a recommendation, solicitation, or invitation to purchase, sell, trade, or otherwise deal in any crypto assets. Crypto assets are highly volatile and may result in loss. The availability of WEEX services, products, and related events may vary by region. You are responsible for ensuring that your participation is in accordance with applicable local laws and regulations. You may also like. Contents. 10/01/2026 09/30/2026 09/29/2026 09/28/2026

Dunamu plans on-chain finance expansion beyond Upbit exchange. The strategy would connect South Korean financial firms with global on-chain systems and consumer payment platforms, including a potential Naver Financial partnership. Published Sep 30, 2026, 11:05 PM EDT Dunamu, the operator of South Korea's largest virtual-asset exchange Upbit, plans to expand beyond exchange services by building on-chain financial infrastructure for domestic and global markets. Discover more Stocks & Bonds News archive access Blockchain news subscription Oh Kyoung-suk, CEO of Dunamu, delivered the speech at approximately 12:25 a.m. ET (04:25 UTC) on Sept. 30 during Korea Blockchain Week 2026 in Seoul. "We plan to build a common infrastructure where various financial players can participate," Oh said. The planned system would connect Web3 financial infrastructure with Web2 consumer payment platforms, potentially including Naver Financial, which operates Naver Pay. It would support banks, securities firms, payment companies and fintechs seeking to develop on-chain financial services without building every underlying function themselves. Dunamu described the initiative as a medium- to long-term expansion aimed at domestic and international traditional financial institutions. No launch date, target countries, investment amount, revenue forecast or operating milestones were disclosed. The strategy is tied to a proposed comprehensive share swap between Dunamu and Naver Financial. Under the proposal, Naver Financial would acquire 100% of Dunamu, subject to required approvals. The transaction values Dunamu at 15.1 trillion won and Naver Financial at 4.9 trillion won. Discover more Financial Markets News Crypto tax software Distributed & Cloud Computing The transaction was scheduled to close Sept. 30, subject to regulatory and other required procedures. Regulatory approval was still pending that day, and completion had not been confirmed. Payment expansion, asset tokenization and global expansion are strategic opportunities identified for the proposed combination. The proposed deal could bring together Dunamu's digital-asset operations with Naver's payment and platform capabilities. Oh said South Korea could strengthen its position in global digital finance by improving access, connectivity and the ability to export digital-asset services. "If the country secures accessibility, connectivity and export possibility (in the digital asset space) it could leap into an important financial hub," he said. "In the era of digital finance, South Korea will have an opportunity, similar to the likes of cities like New York, Hong Kong and Singapore," Oh said.