Stock exchange operators from around the world are to gather in Seoul this week to discuss the future of the capital market and new business opportunities, according to the local bourse operator Korea Exchange.

The World Federation of Exchanges will hold its general assembly and annual meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, with Korea Exchange serving as host.

This is the second time for South Korea’s state-run stock operator to host the event since it joined the organization in 1979, according to Korea Exchange officials.

Established in 1961, the Paris-based WFE is the world’s largest stock trade association, bringing together 57 publicly regulated stocks, futures and options exchanges.

Reflecting the influence it exerts on the global market, the annual WFE meeting is dubbed the “Olympic Games of the financial world.”

As this year’s host, the Korea Exchange is planning to bring to the roundtable a number of issues, ranging from the legislation of financial transaction taxes to the technical controversies surrounding High Frequency Trading by supercomputers.

As trading would take place in a split second under High Frequency Trading, there is an urgent need to remodel the current stock monitoring and reviewing system, according to Korea Exchange officials.

“This is so that customers may respond more quickly and conveniently to the coming changes,” he added.

Korea Exchange also pledged to expand its overseas business with the establishment of an overseas derivative exchange, combined with plans for implementing merger and acquisitions with foreign alternative trading systems.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)