Understanding of the Fintech Phenomenon in the Beholder’s Eyes in South Korea

Advances in information technology (IT) bring about technological innovation in financial businesses, referred to as financial technology (fintech), beyond the traditional financial industry. While fintech implies more convenient and various financial services to customers, it leads to more complexity in the financial sector, as different industry players (e.g., IT firms) can participate in financial businesses. The complexity of fintech causes controversial issues related to policies and the appropriate development direction. In order to provide insight into the current state of fintech, this study explores the fundamental understanding of the fintech phenomenon from the perspective of the major stakeholders (i.e., financial authorities, financial companies, IT firms) in South Korea. This study analyzed news articles, where those stakeholders expressed their arguments, by using a content analysis. The study also conducted an intensive examination of their arguments by using a core–periphery approach of social representations. This study found that while the three beholders had a common opinion on deregulation of the fintech industry, each of them had different knowledge of the phenomenon. By revealing each beholder’s structure of representations of fintech, this study not only provides common knowledge regarding fintech but also explicates the perceptual gaps among stakeholders. Findings of the study offer a big picture of current fintech initiatives, which can be useful knowledge for future research on fintech.