Hanwha heir shares sustainable food vision with Standford students
The event was part of Stanford University's Global Study Trip. The annual program allows students to conduct field studies in major countries and gain firsthand experience of the society, culture and the economy there. This year's trips included visits to Korea, Germany, Italy, Ethiopia and Japan.
Around 30 students and faculty members visited Seoul's 63 Square, where they expressed keen interest in Hanwha Group, a company with a strong presence in diverse sectors such as defense, finance, distribution and machinery.
"I want to contribute to society through healthy and sustainable food," Kim reportedly said during the event. "We will leverage food tech to reduce costs and improve efficiency while investing in higher-quality ingredients."
Regarding his management philosophy, he emphasized the importance of having "the courage" to recognize one's own shortcomings, adding that he remains committed to continuous learning.
The participants, hailing from the United States, Asia and Europe, engaged in discussions on topics such as sustainability, corporate innovation and leadership, and business marketing through Korean culture. Many students were particularly interested in Hanwha's distribution and service sector, asking Kim about the success factors behind Five Guys' expansion in Korea, and future strategies.
Students also took note of Hanwha Vision's leadership in the US security service provider market and Hanwha Semitech's recent entry into the high-bandwidth memory TC bonder market, which positioned the company within Nvidia's supply chain.
"It was a valuable opportunity to showcase the Korean market and Hanwha's unique competitive strengths to global talent with diverse backgrounds," a Hanwha Galleria official said. "We will continue to engage with the next generation of leaders through various initiatives."
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