Hana Bank Teams Up with Content Distributor Danal Ent to Establish Security Token Ecosystem

Lotte World Unveils Theme Park Maps in Metaverse Platform The SandboxLotte World, one of South Korea’s major theme parks, announced Wednesday (local time) that it is making its debut on the global metaverse platform The Sandbox, on which it will unveil a virtual map that mirrors the offline theme park experience with quests and missions.Photo by Shuto Araki on UnsplashImmersive virtual adventuresThe map portrays a fantastical concept with two realms — Lotte World Station and Fairy Tale World. Lotte World Station is a map of a train station modeled after the theme park that serves as both the starting point for all journeys through the metaverse and as a gateway to other maps. Users can explore the map and learn about the various virtual adventures awaiting them. The map also offers information about Lotte World’s five businesses, including Lotte World Adventure, Lotte Water Park, Seoul Sky, and more.Users can even enjoy attractions such as Lotte World Adventure’s Balloon Ride and World Monorail, as well as Seoul Sky’s Sky Bridge and the Water Park’s Tornado Water Slide.On the other hand, Fairy Tale World is a kingdom-themed map where Lorry and Lotty — Lotte World’s famous mascots — reside as queen and knight. Users can access this map by riding the World Monorail from Lotte World Station. They can then embark on quests to save the cursed Fairy Tale World and enjoy rides such as Gyro Drop, Fantasy Dream, Bumper Cars, and Merry-Go-Round.Furthermore, the virtual map features Lotte World Adventure’s iconic landmark, Magic Castle, and Lotte World Adventure Busan’s Talking Tree, where parades will also be held.Special eventThe theme park is also holding an opening event in celebration of the map’s launch. Users who complete quests within Lotte World Station and Fairy Tale World by November 8 will receive rewards. Furthermore, those who possess items that they collected from the Lotte World Adventure game that was released in July will receive additional rewards.“We plan to release three more maps in the future to further diversify our metaverse content. We are committed to showcasing unique content that Lotte World alone can provide, transcending the boundaries of online and offline experiences,” the theme park said.

South Korea Launches Blockchain Project to Streamline Public ServicesThe South Korean Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Internet and Security Agency (KISA) have launched the 2023 blockchain application project to bolster the domestic industry and adapt to the rapidly evolving global blockchain landscape.Photo by Ping Onganankun on Unsplash$1.6 million projectAs part of the Korean government’s broader strategy to promote the blockchain industry, the project has received a budget of approximately 20.7 billion KRW ($1.6 million). The project participants are focused on exploring blockchain-based services that offer convenience to the public and have the potential to penetrate the global market. The digitization of drivers’ licenses is such a service that has been developed and has simplified the lives of Korean citizens.The project encompasses both the public and private sectors, each undertaking six programs. The public sector programs aim to explore blockchain-based services that the government can provide, while the private sector programs are dedicated to supporting the commercialization of business prototypes developed by companies.Public sector programsThe six public sector programs are the implementation of digital badges for national licenses, the development of an online voting system for residents, the establishment of a remote pension eligibility check system, the enhancement of the electronic authentication system, the streamlining of drone operation applications, and the creation of a performance tracking platform for athletes.For instance, the implementation of digital badges for national licenses will greatly streamline the process for individuals who need to present their licenses to relevant organizations as a means of verifying their credentials. Presently, license holders are required to physically visit issuers or navigate their websites to gather the necessary documentation. However, the introduction of this new technology eliminates the need for this cumbersome process.Private sector programsMeanwhile, the private sector programs focus on developing the following six platforms: the battery life authentication system for electric vehicles (EVs), the oil waste trading platform, the non-fungible token (NFT) issuer for digital identity authentication, the NFT concert ticket system, the fractional investment platform for power plants, and the corporate management planner for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives.For example, the introduction of a blockchain-based certificate system to assess the remaining life of EV batteries holds significant implications for both car insurance and the trading of used cars. Currently, the lack of comprehensive data to evaluate the exact value of EV batteries poses challenges to the efficient trade of both used cars and batteries. Establishing this certificate platform will not only promote battery recycling but also positively impact the industry as a whole.

Com2uS USA CEO Highlights Importance of Transition from Web2 to Web3 GamingLee Kyu-chang, CEO of South Korean game developer Com2uS’ American branch, stressed the important role of Web3 games in encouraging gamers to embrace blockchain technology during a discussion at the Korea Blockchain Week (KBW) 2023 event held at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul on Tuesday.Photo by Fredrick Tendong on UnsplashLee shared various insights on the topic that Com2uS Group has gained through its experience in developing blockchain games. “We view blockchain not as a platform but as a tool,” he said.Nurturing Web3 adoption among gamersIn particular, the CEO emphasized the need for Web2 users to transition to Web3. Indeed, Com2uS is aiming to migrate to Web3, although it is still majorly involved in Web2 businesses.However, there stands a roadblock to achieving this widespread transition. “Gamers do not understand Web3. What they want is for good games to be released. And if they’re not good, they won’t play them regardless of whether they’re Web2 or Web3,” Lee explained, arguing that fun Web3 games will have gamers naturally learning about Web3.Due to these reasons, the conversion rate for gamers is currently quite low. To remedy this, Lee proposed that facilitating the transition for Web2 gamers to Web3 is a more sustainable method than directly targeting only Web3 users. The latter strategy is not ideal due to the fact that there aren’t many Web3 users yet in the first place, and more importantly, existing ones are not typically gamers.Balancing the shiftThe Com2uS Group has thus chosen to concentrate on Web2 while gradually transitioning to Web3. “We must remember that the transition is slow. We went through a similar process when shifting from PC to mobile gaming,” Lee cautioned.“Our company’s mission is to make people want to play games with ownership rights and make them want to own game assets.”