Nearly 70% of patent applications filed in South Korea for investment-related artificial intelligence (AI) came from non-listed companies and startups, a report showed. This suggests that venture firms are leading the AI transformation in the finance sector. According to a report from the Korea Capital Market Institute, 67% of these applications were filed by local Software as a Service (SaaS) companies.
According to a report from the Korea Capital Market Institute, 67% of patent applications for financial investment-related AI were filed by local Software as a Service (SaaS) companies. Of these, 76% were designed to be sold to other companies or businesses, while only 14% were intended for individual customers. Many of the patent requests were related to AI for standardized tasks, including consigned trading of financial products, monitoring of abnormal trading activity, and stock price analysis.
The report noted that AI patent filings were minimal in areas that involve non-disclosed information and depend on human networks, such as deal sourcing, as well as areas with high financial risks. "For AI innovation to spread across the entire financial investment industry, rather than being concentrated in certain areas, the active roles of the government and regulatory authorities are necessary," it added.
The report was published on February 17, 2026, against the backdrop of Seoul's Yeouido financial district. The leading role of non-listed firms highlights a new trend in AI adoption within the finance sector.