Seonik Jeon is a South Korean entrepreneur known as the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of FACTBLOCK, a Web3 ecosystem builder, and the founder of Korea Blockchain Week, a major annual blockchain conference held in Seoul. He is also the vice chairman of the Financial News Media Group. ^{[1] [2]}

Education

Jeon attended California State University, Long Beach, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems in 2014. He later continued his education at Korea University, where he completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 2016. ^[6]

Career

Jeon began his career in journalism at The Financial News, where he was appointed Tokyo bureau chief in January 2012. Later that year, he became the chief executive officer of the publication, a role he maintained until January 2023. In June 2022, he was appointed vice chairman of the Financial News Media Group, a position he continues to hold.

In March 2018, Jeon founded FactBlock in Seoul, focusing on the developing blockchain industry, and has served as its CEO since its inception. During this period, he also co-founded Cointelegraph Korea, where he was co-CEO from August 2019 to September 2020. His work through FACTBLOCK led to the establishment of Korea Blockchain Week in 2018. ^[7]

FACTBLOCK

FACTBLOCK was founded by Jeon in 2018 with the stated mission of building the Web3 ecosystem by reducing information disparities within the blockchain industry. The company aims to connect international blockchain enterprises with the Korean market while promoting domestic companies on a global scale. In addition to consulting and advisory services, FACTBLOCK's primary initiative is organizing Korea Blockchain Week (KBW). ^[3]

Korea Blockchain Week

Jeon has stated that his experience studying in the United States and observing the lack of major global industry events in South Korea motivated him to establish KBW. The event, first held in 2018, has since grown from a small gathering into a large-scale international festival. It features a main flagship conference, IMPACT, which serves as a central forum for industry leaders to deliver keynotes and participate in panel discussions. The week-long event also includes numerous side events, project exhibitions, and networking opportunities across Seoul. KBW integrates cultural elements such as music and art, positioning it as both an industry conference and a cultural festival. ^{[1] [4]}

Interviews

Korea Blockchain Week

In an interview during Korea Blockchain Week in November 2024, Jeon discussed the event's origins and his perspective on the blockchain industry. He recounted that after seven years, KBW had evolved from a simple conference into a global festival with over 300 side events. Jeon distinguished between AI and blockchain, describing AI as a technology that directly transforms daily life, while viewing blockchain as a critical underlying infrastructure.

He commented on the rapid adoption of global trends in the Korean market, particularly the high level of interest and trading volume in blockchain. Jeon noted that in emerging markets, startups are often better positioned to innovate than large enterprises, which may later collaborate with or acquire successful startups as the market matures. He also stressed the importance of government regulations to protect investors as the blockchain sector expands. ^[2]

Presentations

Fablo Platform Keynote

During a keynote presentation at Korea Blockchain Week in November 2024, Jeon addressed the challenges of broader blockchain adoption in South Korea. He pointed to a significant knowledge gap among local cryptocurrency participants, stating that of approximately 6.5 million traders, only 1.6 million were active, and just 880,000 were proficient in conducting on-chain transactions. He argued that the technical jargon and complex user interfaces common in Web3 often deter mainstream users.

To address these issues, Jeon introduced Fablo, a Web3 reward application developed by FACTBLOCK. He described the platform as a tool designed to simplify user engagement with blockchain technology through an accessible interface and educational content. The platform was also developed to comply with the Virtual Asset User Protection Act, which imposes strict rules on marketing and user engagement. Jeon concluded by announcing the platform's official launch and related community events scheduled during KBW. ^[5]