The Financial Services Commission said July 13 that companies can apply from July 14 through 6 p.m. on July 30 for designation as 2026 Third Quarter Innovative Financial Services. Applications must be submitted through the Financial Regulatory Sandbox website. The Innovative Financial Service Review Committee will examine submissions within the statutory period of up to 120 days, with final designations decided at a regular committee meeting. The commission and the Korea Fintech Support Center have formed a 73-member team of legal, patent, accounting and technology experts to provide free consulting. Applicants can receive guidance on the regulatory framework before drafting, formal-requirement checks afterward, and substantive advice on review criteria if they are small or medium-sized fintech companies. The website offers prior designation cases and FAQs, while applicants can monitor review stages and schedules through their dashboards. Designated services can receive exemptions from or deferrals of existing regulations for up to four years while they are tested, after which formal institutionalization is determined based on market-test results.