Pope Leo’s Legacy and Korea’s Digital Asset Regulatory Principles
The historical context surrounding Pope Leo’s encyclical “Rerum Novarum” (1891), which addressed the conditions of the working class and the rights and duties of capital and labor, offers a surprising, albeit indirect, parallel to the foundational principles Korea is applying in its digital asset regulatory framework. While explicitly addressing 19th-century industrial society, the encyclical grappled with questions of property rights, social justice, and the role of the state in protecting vulnerable populations—themes that resonate with current debates on regulating decentralized finance ( DeFi ) and digital asset markets. Korea’s approach emphasizes the protection of investors and market stability, mirroring the broader societal protection sought in historical social doctrines.
