The Academic Necessity of Digital Finance and Lessons for the Korean Financial Market Digital finance is driving fundamental changes in today's global financial markets, attracting significant attention from both academic research and industry. Particularly, the trend among European academia advocating for digital finance to be established as a new interdisciplinary subject at the core of financial academic research offers crucial implications for the global financial research community. A scholarly paper titled 'Digital Finance: Reaching New Frontiers,' published by researchers at the University of Twente, presents clear arguments for why digital finance should be a top priority for academic research and how it can help the European financial industry maintain its future competitiveness. According to University of Twente Research Information, the paper emphasizes that digital finance must be at the heart of financial academic research for the European financial industry to remain competitive in the future. The researchers argue that this new interdisciplinary field of digital finance should be prioritized based on the European Union's strategic priorities, the practical demands of the financial industry, and existing gaps in current academic research. This implies that academic research must evolve beyond mere technological innovation to exert a tangible impact on industry practices and policy-making. The necessity of digital finance research is closely linked to the European Union's strategic priorities. As presented in the paper, digital finance can contribute to key strategic objectives of the European Union, such as financing for growth and job creation, financial stability and supervision, financial education, financing for SMEs, and addressing exclusion and inequality in credit access. These priorities reflect the most pressing economic and social challenges facing modern society, demonstrating that digital finance technologies can play a crucial role in addressing them. In particular, issues of exclusion and inequality in credit access suggest the potential for digital finance to overcome structural limitations that traditional financial systems have failed to resolve. The researchers explain that the field of digital finance will become a premier peer-reviewed resource for academics and practitioners publishing high-quality papers focused on recommendations related to financial market and investment innovation, financial policy research, and welfare improvement in the digital economy. This underscores that digital finance research should not merely be theoretical exploration but possess practical value directly applicable to real-world policy decisions and industry practices. Bridging the gap between academic research and practical application is a significant challenge facing modern financial academia, and digital finance is considered an ideal field for achieving this integration. The suitable research topics presented in the paper demonstrate the broad spectrum of the digital finance field. First, data analytics is presented as a core tool for digital finance research. The ability to effectively analyze and interpret vast financial data is essential for understanding financial market patterns and predicting the future. Second, innovative technology or financial technology data analysis plays a crucial role in developing new financial services and business models. This is an essential factor for traditional financial institutions to adapt and maintain competitiveness in the digital age. Third, theoretical analysis or modeling of financial innovation provides an academic foundation for systematically understanding and explaining digital finance phenomena. Without a theoretical framework, practical innovation is not sustainable, and academia bears a significant responsibility in building this theoretical foundation. Fourth, the impact of financial technology on financial inclusion is a crucial research topic directly related to social equality. Researching how digital financial technologies provide access to traditionally underserved populations and what new forms of exclusion might arise in this process is essential for inclusive social development. Directions for Korean Digital Finance Research through European Cases Fifth, research into technological advancements that could significantly impact the field offers a future-oriented perspective. Evaluating which technologies have the potential to fundamentally transform the financial industry and predicting their development trajectory is crucial for strategic planning. Sixth, research on strategic planning, particularly concerning the design and implementation of financial technologies, serves as a bridge connecting theory and practice. Researching the challenges and best practices involved in effectively designing and implementing financial technologies in real-world financial environments provides direct value to the industry. Seventh, the role o
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