Latest news with #HamYoung-joo
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Korea Herald
20-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
[Photo News] Hana honors parents
Hana Financial Group hosted a special concert for employees and their parents on Saturday at Chungnam National University in Daejeon, in celebration of Korea's upcoming 'Family Month' in May. The event featured a variety of activities, including performances of trot music -- a family-friendly genre of older Korean pop. Surprise video messages from parents and themed photo zones gave employees and their families a chance to create lasting memories. 'Hana Financial Group stands where it is today thanks to the sacrifice, dedication, trust and love of our parents,' said Chairman Ham Young-joo (sixth from left in the photo). (Hana Financial Group)
![[Photo News] Hana empowers inclusive art](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwimg.heraldcorp.com%2Fnews%2Fcms%2F2025%2F04%2F17%2Fnews-p.v1.20250417.1689664fd84d472592f4e580dc0f1db7_T1.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Korea Herald
17-04-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
[Photo News] Hana empowers inclusive art
Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo (center) poses with Grand Prize winners of the 'Hana Artverse' contest during the awards ceremony held at Hana Bank's headquarters in Eulji-ro, central Seoul, on Thursday. Now in its fourth year, the annual contest honors artists with developmental disabilities in celebration of South Korea's Day of Persons with Disabilities, observed on April 20. This year's contest drew 877 submissions, with 30 winners selected — 21 adults and nine children. 'At Hana Financial Group, we will walk alongside artists with developmental disabilities as they pursue their dreams in a world free of stereotypes,' Ham said. 'We will continue supporting efforts to enhance disability awareness.' (Hana Financial Group)
Korea Herald
04-04-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Hana financial unveils W6.3tr relief plan for SMEs after US tariffs
South Korean financial service providers are scrambling to respond to the 'reciprocal" tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump on Wednesday. Hana Financial Group, one of the country's top four financial groups, has pledged 6.3 trillion won ($4.38 billion) in support of the small and medium-sized enterprises expected to be hit the hardest by the US tariff measures. The support package aims to assist SMEs and small merchants amid growing concerns that volatility in financial and foreign exchange markets will continue following the US decision to impose tariffs on all imports, the group explained Thursday. Hana Bank, the group's main lending arm, will allocate 6 trillion won to help provide liquidity to SMEs. The bank plans to offer financial support to businesses facing liquidity shortages due to the new tariff policy, including interest rate reductions and loan maturity extensions. Additionally, the bank will set aside 24 billion won to support auto parts businesses — one of the sectors expected to suffer the most under the new tariffs — through a partnership with the Korea Credit Guarantee Fund later this month. To further aid exporters, Hana Bank will consider delaying credit rating downgrades for businesses impacted by the tariffs and exempting them from existing trade financing limits. For small merchants, the bank has allocated 300 billion won in new loans, which will be offered at preferential interest rates. Hana Financial Group Chair Ham Young-joo stated, 'We will expand financial support to help SMEs and small merchants that are expected to struggle with the US' imposition of 'reciprocal tariffs.'' Meanwhile, other major financial institutions are also preparing responses to the trade policy shift. Shinhan Financial Group will hold an emergency meeting convened by Chair Jin Ok-dong on Friday afternoon to address increased market volatility. Its affiliates, including Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Card, are set to hold separate strategy sessions. KB Financial Group likewise plans to hold an executive meeting with Chair Yang Jong-hee in attendance.
Korea Herald
27-03-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Hana Financial launches W10b project to support small merchants
Hana Financial Group, a leading Korean financial service provider, launched a project to help small business owners across the country, as part of the firm's environmental, social and governance drive, the group announced Thursday. Through its key lending affiliate Hana Bank, the firm is to put 10 billion won ($6.8 million) into roughly 3,500 small businesses to help them bring up efficiency in business management. For 1,000 businesses, the firm is to change outdated appliances such as air conditioners and refrigerators with high-efficiency products in April. It will also help another 2,000 merchants with repairs such as changing the signs, preventing leakage and changing interiors in June. In August, the firm will provide funding for 500 businesses to acquire new digital devices, such as barrier-free kiosks and artificial intelligence, closed-circuit televisions. Hana Financial will select small merchants based on the suitability of their business, and the validity and efficiency of the support. The firm will receive applications for a month for each drive and review them for two weeks. As part of the move, Hana Financial Group CEO Ham Young-joo visited a small business that was damaged by a fire at the end of last year, and pitched in to help with repairs. It was his first official event after securing his second term as the finance firm's chief. Ham also met with corporate clients and shared their difficulties with corporate management. 'As a partner that helps the growth of small business owners who are the base of the economy and the center of the local community, Hana Financial will continue to support small business owners who are experiencing difficulties with the economic slowdown,' Ham said. The firm teamed up with the governmental agency Small Enterprise and Market Service for the project. Under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, SEMAS supports small businesses and traditional markets.
Korea Herald
25-03-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Hana Financial chief wins 2nd term
Ham Young-joo eyes non-banking growth, 50% shareholder return Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo has secured his second term as the chief of the major financial firm. He is expected to focus on improving the firm's shareholder return and expanding the group's non-banking portfolio. Hana Financial announced Ham's reappointment following a shareholders' meeting held Tuesday at its headquarters in central Seoul. His renewed tenure will run until March 2028. "Ham has led the qualitative growth of the group as a CEO who prioritizes shareholder value and has the vision to boost corporate value, such as strengthening profitability from the non-banking sector,' the firm's executive candidate recommendation committee said. Like its peers, Hana Financial has been working to reduce reliance on its key lending affiliate, KEB Hana Bank. 'Considering the risk factors in the finance industry amid rising volatilities, (Hana Financial) desperately needs verified leadership that could lead the group,' the committee viewed. Under Ham's leadership, Hana Financial plans to double its non-banking profit from last year's 16 percent to 30 percent by 2027. It also plans to boost the shareholder return rate to 50 percent in 2027, leaping from 38 percent in 2024. Ham was the sole candidate running for the top position, though he was shortlisted for the position along with former Hana Bank CEO Lee Seung-lyul, Hana Securities CEO Kang Seong-muk and two non-Hana figures in December. The finance group made it possible for Ham to extend his term by revising its internal rule to allow directors to serve past the age of 70. Ham is currently 69. Ham joined Seoul Bank, a predecessor of Hana Bank, as a teller in 1980. He was appointed CEO of Hana Bank in 2015, following its merger with Korea Exchange Bank. In 2016, he took on double duty as vice chair of the bank's holding company, Hana Financial Group. He was named the chair of the holding entity in 2022. Yet Ham's legal risk persists, threatening his leadership at the firm. Ham is accused of meddling with the recruiting and hiring process at Hana Bank when he was the lender's chief in 2016. Though the lower court ruled Ham innocent, he was later found guilty at an appellate court in 2023. He was sentenced to six months in prison, a suspended sentence of two years and a fine of 3 million won ($2,040). If the Supreme Court finds him guilty, Ham has to step down from his post as stipulated by the Act on Corporate Governance of Financial Companies. Ham was also accused of internal control failure involving the misselling of derivatives-linked funds in 2019. He was cleared by the Supreme Court in 2024 after a four-year legal battle.
