Inside Korea Blockchain Week: A Conversation With Factblock CEO Seonik Jeon on Building the World’s Most Collaborative Web3 Stage

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By the end of 2025, few events will claim to have shaped the global conversation around Web3 like Korea Blockchain Week (KBW) has. Founded by Factblock in 2018 KBW has evolved from a regional gathering into a global crossroads for crypto, culture, and capital.

We sat down with Factblock CEO Seonik Jeon—the founder behind KBW—to discuss the decade-long vision, how the team balances compliance with creativity, and why Seoul intends to remain Web3’s beating heart well into 2026.

The Vision: From Grassroots Builder to Global Convenor

Q: Factblock founded KBW in 2018. What problem were you trying to solve, and how has that vision matured?

Seonik Jeon: We started KBW to reduce information gaps and create a credible forum where regulators, institutions, and builders could discuss the future of open finance—on the same stage. Korea has always embraced technology quickly; we believed a curated, high-signal week could catalyze real adoption, not just hype. Today, KBW is a week-long festival with “IMPACT” as its flagship, drawing global leaders while staying community-first.

Context: KBW has steadily expanded its footprint since 2018, becoming one of the longest-running blockchain weeks globally. In 2024, Factblock reported record participation (17,000+), signaling accelerating demand for a credible Asia hub.

The KBW Formula: Where Compliance Meets Creativity

Q: KBW blends policy, markets, gaming, AI, and culture. How do you keep the content rigorous without losing the festival energy?

Jeon: We program for convergence. Our curation marries institutional credibility—regulators, policy thinkers, public companies—with builders, creators, and open-source communities. That duality keeps sessions practical and inspiring. The goal is to surface what’s investable and what’s next.

Context: KBW’s 2025 communication highlighted a “convergence” of Washington policymakers, institutions, and AI/crypto innovation; the 2024 edition similarly emphasized real-world integration.

Seoul’s Edge: Why the City Became Web3’s Beating Heart

Q: Many now call Seoul a crypto capital. What makes the city so effective as a host?

Jeon: Korea’s culture adopts technology at speed. You see it in gaming, creator economies, and mobile finance. That creates a sophisticated audience and deep talent pool. Hosting in Seoul attracts both East-West capital and culture—so the conversations are global by default.

Context: KBW was conceived as a platform that connects diverse global communities while spotlighting Korea’s unique strengths—top-tier game studios, developer talent, and a culture that blends entertainment with tech.

Programming the “Crossroads”: What Made 2025 Different

Q: What set KBW2025 apart from prior editions?

Jeon: We doubled down on cross-disciplinary programming: AI x Bitcoin, tokenized real-world assets, policy clarity, and institution-builder collaboration. We also leaned into Seoul’s cultural gravity—music, art, and community events—to make the week genuinely participatory, not just a sequence of panels.

Context: 2025 speaker previews featured category leaders and reinforced KBW’s role as a platform for global thought leadership, while the official site underscores KBW as a unifier of diverse communities.

Organizing at Scale: Structure, Partnerships, and Media

Q: What does Factblock look like behind the scenes? How do you sustain momentum year-round?

Jeon: We’ve evolved from a pure event organizer into an ecosystem builder—connecting brands, builders, media, and communities. That includes new initiatives like FABLO, our Web3 rewards application, and year-round community relations that make KBW a platform, not a once-a-year spike.

Context: Factblock describes itself as a Web3 ecosystem builder with KBW as a global brand platform and deep community relations; FABLO is positioned as a discovery and rewards app to keep engagement active between editions.

Looking Ahead: How Seoul Stays at the Center in 2026

Q: What should the industry expect from KBW in 2026?

Jeon: Three priorities.

1. Deeper policy dialogue—we’ll continue convening regulators and institutions so builders get clarity.
2. New city collaborations—pop-up tracks and co-created content with partners across Asia, the Gulf, and the West.
3. Culture as a force-multiplier—we’ll keep mixing entertainment and education so adoption feels natural, not forced.

Context: KBW’s communications emphasize regulator-builder engagement and Seoul’s intent to remain a global hub; continued partnerships indicate an outward expansion model while keeping the “IMPACT” flagship at home.

Final Word

Q: If you had to summarize the KBW philosophy in one line?

Jeon: High signal, human connection. If we keep that promise—credible content and genuine community—Seoul will remain a place where the industry comes to decide what’s next.

About Factblock & Korea Blockchain Week

Factblock is a Korea-based Web3 ecosystem builder and the founder/organizer of Korea Blockchain Week (KBW), established in 2018. KBW is a week-long, global blockchain and Web3 festival in Seoul that unifies industry leaders and communities through curated content, cultural programming, and the flagship IMPACT conference.

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