Hanwha Life bolsters support for HLE ahead of 2025 LCK
Last year marked a major milestone in the company's esports push, with HLE clinching the LCK summer championship, one of the most coveted titles of the esports scene.
Building on that success, Hanwha Life has enhanced player accommodations, offering each member a private room instead of the previous two-per-room setup. The team bus— which serves not only as transport but also as a dedicated recovery space during competitions and a symbol of the HLE brand — has also been upgraded.
Last year's LCK victory was the culmination of nearly seven years of dedication to esports for Hanwha Life, securing HLE's first championship since its founding in 2018.
The insurer had been the first financial firm to establish its own esports team. At the time, Hanwha Life emphasized its commitment to esports, explaining its decision to build a team rather than simply sponsor one. The move was unexpected, as the local esports scene was struggling with waning popularity, and many companies were pulling back their support.
For Hanwha Life, esports presented a strategic opportunity to connect with younger generations — those in their teens to 30s — who are generally less interested in life insurance, particularly amid declining demand for traditional life and savings insurance products.
The esports initiative is also part of Hanwha Life's broader strategy to promote its global business, particularly in Southeast Asian markets, where esports is thriving, driven by a young, digitally savvy population. Chief Global Officer Kim Dong-won has led this initiative to bolster the company's regional presence and engage with potential young customers.
The company operates in markets such as China and Indonesia, with a particularly strong foothold in Vietnam, where it marked its first cumulative profit in 15 years of operations in 2024.
As HLE's popularity grows internationally, Hanwha Life is seeing the benefits. A fan event in Vietnam last July saw 10 times the number of applicants for the 1,500 available spots, reflecting the team's strong following. According to the company, 30 percent of attendees discovered Hanwha Life through the esports team.
Hanwha Life has announced plans to hold another fan meeting this year.
HLE has already had a strong start to 2025. Ahead of the upcoming LCK championship, the team claimed the inaugural 2025 LCK Cup title in February and triumphed at the 2025 First Stand Tournament, securing its first global victory.
At a recent media day for the 2025 LCK, HLE was named the strongest championship contender by rival teams, underscoring the industry's high expectations for the squad.
This year, Hanwha Life has adopted the slogan "Great Challengers" for HLE.
'HLE's journey mirrors Hanwha Life's venture into new challenges beyond traditional insurance, such as global expansion and leadership in financial artificial intelligence,' the company said. 'As great challengers, we look forward to HLE and Hanwha Life pursuing their challenges this year.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Korea Herald
Ph government, top fintech firm team up to accelerate digital shift of transport sector
MANILA, Philippines, Aug. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Philippine government has partnered with the country's leading e-wallet in line with its agenda to modernize the local transportation sector with world-class payment solutions. The Department of Transportation (DOTr), the country's central bank, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and leading local fintech giant GCash have launched world-class cashless solutions in Metro Manila's main rail line, the Metro Rail Transit System Line 3 (MRT-3). This initiative positions the Philippines in the same category as its Southeast Asian neighbors, such as Singapore, which have implemented open-loop ticketing systems, which reduces friction for commuters, allowing them to use various cashless modes of payment. The newly launched Automated Fare Collection System enables faster, easier journeys for MRT-3 passengers via a tap-in and tap-out method through multiple modes of payment: QR, mobile NFC, and debit/credit cards. "This is just the beginning. We're working on this to make all turnstile carousels [equipped] with this option for various payment modes," said Transport Secretary Vince Dizon, adding the digital payment solutions will soon be available in other rail lines — the Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2, and other mass transport systems. "One of our core mandates is to make payments safer, secure, efficient, reliable, and more accessible to all. Today, those two goals come together," said Walter Wassmer, member of the central bank's Monetary Board. To help ensure the success of this initiative, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said they have been working to enhance internet connectivity at MRT-3, allowing commuters to access the GCash app whenever. "We're so proud and excited to finally launch this service in partnership with the government," said Martha Sazon, President & CEO of Mynt, the holding company of GCash. "Before, people would line up as early as 4:30 am just to buy a ticket. I hope that with this project, we can help them make their commute faster and more convenient." About GCash GCash is the Philippines' #1 Finance Super App and Largest Cashless Ecosystem. Through the GCash App, users can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills via partner billers nationwide; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 6 million partner merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, loans, insurance and invest money, and so much more, all at the convenience of their smartphones. Its mobile wallet operations are handled by G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt, the first and only $5 billion unicorn in the Philippines. GCash is a staunch supporter of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly UN SDGs 5,8,10, and 13, which focus on safety & security, financial inclusion, diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, respectively.
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Korea Herald
2025 LCK finals to air on MBC, marking terrestrial TV debut
Live coverage of South Korea's premier League of Legends tournament set for late September Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation will become the country's first over-the-air broadcaster to televise the League of Legends Champions Korea finals. The LCK — South Korea's premier professional League of Legends esports league — has reportedly finalized broadcast rights negotiations with MBC for the 2025 LCK finals. Under the deal, MBC will air every match of the finals live Sept. 27–28. This will be the first time since the 2018 Jakarta–Palembang Asian Games that an esports competition is broadcast live on a domestic terrestrial channel. At that event, the Korean Broadcasting System and Seoul Broadcasting System aired the League of Legends matches, which were featured as demonstration sports during the Games. Riot Games said, 'Regarding (MBC broadcasting the games), we will release an official statement at a later date.' The LCK finals crown the top team of the year, with the highest-ranking team securing a berth at the League of Legends World Championship. The sport's most prestigious global competition kicks off this October in China.
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Korea Herald
Dunamu, MB Bank to launch Vietnam's first crypto exchange
Dunamu, operator of South Korea's largest cryptocurrency platform Upbit, will join forces with Vietnam's state-controlled Military Bank to launch the Southeast Asian nation's first domestic digital asset exchange. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday at a business forum in Seoul attended by corporate leaders from both countries. 'The partnership is especially significant as Dunamu is exporting Korea's exchange model and technology as part of an overseas state-led initiative,' a company official said. Military Bank, or MB Bank, is a joint-stock commercial lender founded in 1994 as a subsidiary of the Ministry of National Defence. It ranks among Vietnam's five largest banks, serving 33 million customers with total assets nearing $50 billion. Under the deal, Dunamu will serve as MB Bank's key strategic partner, sharing its technology and infrastructure while advising on regulatory compliance, investor protection and talent development. The agreement comes as Vietnam moves to bring digital assets under formal oversight. In July, the Law on Digital Technology Industry was passed to legalize them and establish a regulated market. Dunamu has not only transformed Upbit into Korea's top exchange, but has helped shape Korea's broader crypto ecosystem and regulatory landscape, likely a key reason why the Vietnamese government tapped it as a partner. In July, Dunamu Vice Chair and co-founder Kim Hyoung-nyon met Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, pledging the company's commitment to cooperation in Vietnam's digital economy. Upbit is the world's third-largest crypto exchange, handling more than $1.1 trillion in trades and managing assets of over 15.3 trillion won ($11 billion). 'Vietnam has potential with more than 20 million virtual asset holders, over $800 billion in trading volume and the world's fifth-largest inflow of blockchain-based assets,' Dunamu CEO Oh Kyoung-suk said. 'When this growth potential meets the Upbit model, it will be a chance to build not just an exchange but Vietnam's entire digital financial infrastructure on a foundation of trust.' MB Bank Chair Luu Trung Thai added, 'MB and Upbit will work together as trusted partners to advance Vietnam's digital finance market.'
