Seoul is bringing financial technology startups and global industry leaders together this week to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) could reshape personal finance while opening new paths to investment and growth for emerging businesses. Seoul Fintech Week 2026 began Monday and continues through Wednesday at Conrad Seoul and around the International Finance Centre in Yeouido, with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Financial Supervisory Service and Shinhan Financial Group among its co-hosts. Held under the theme “AI-driven digital finance transformation: Finance that knows me,” the event will examine personalized financial services, AI agents and data-driven tools designed to tailor services to individual users. The opening ceremony on Monday included a speech by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and awards for three companies selected through the Finovation Challenge, a city-backed program supporting fintech startups through industry partnerships and real-world technology testing. Six companies — Advisor Lauren, Kleon, Momstay, First Value, Caring and Fairy Tech — were candidates for