The Korea Mint and Security Printing Corporation attended the ’2025 World Money Fair (WMF)’ held in Berlin, Germany, and confirmed the latest trends in the coin industry around the world. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Korea Bizwire) — As the global coinage industry undergoes a paradigm shift from traditional currency to collectible and artistic pieces, South Korea’s state-run minting agency is looking to integrate its coin production with K-culture to develop a new high-value industry.
The Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation (KOMSCO) announced on February 12 that it participated in the 2025 World Money Fair (WMF) in Berlin from January 29 to February 1, where it explored the latest trends in the international minting industry.
With the rapid digitization of payments reducing the need for circulation coins, the WMF showcased a shift away from traditional currency like South Korea’s 100-won coin. Instead, the exhibition was dominated by commemorative and artistic coins that serve as collectibles rather than means of transaction. The event drew approximately 15,000 visitors from around the world.
The Canadian Mint has unveiled its first 10kg extra-large maple art-type silver coin, limited to only 299 pieces. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Notable presentations included Canada’s Royal Mint unveiling a 10-kilogram silver Maple Leaf coin, limited to just 299 pieces, which drew long lines for photo opportunities.
Meanwhile, Australia’s Royal Mint introduced a commemorative coin celebrating the 25th anniversary of the animated series SpongeBob SquarePants, attracting significant interest from younger audiences. Other exhibits featured creative snake-design coins marking the Year of the Snake in various cultures.
Against this backdrop, KOMSCO is positioning itself to pivot from producing circulation coins toward manufacturing and distributing high-value artistic coins. The declining use of 10-won and 100-won coins in South Korea has reinforced the need for this transition.
As part of its strategy, the agency plans to expand commemorative coin production for national events, historical landmarks, and cultural icons. Additionally, it is exploring the introduction of artistic coin programs modeled after those implemented by other countries to enhance their national branding.
With the global popularity of K-pop, K-drama, and K-food, KOMSCO believes integrating K-culture into numismatic products could create a significant cultural and economic impact.
“This year’s WMF was a valuable opportunity to assess the current state of Korea’s coinage industry and explore new directions,” said KOMSCO President Sung Chang-hoon. “If we capture national symbols beautifully in our coins and link them with K-culture, we can develop a globally recognized cultural content industry.”
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
