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Hana Financial Group nurtures young entrepreneurs for job creation
Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo, fourth from right, and officials from Hana and Kwangwoon University pose after signing a memorandum of understanding at the university’s campus in Seoul, April 11. Courtesy of Hana Financial Group
By Lee Kyung-min
Hana Financial Group has launched the 4th Hana Social Venture University program to enrich youth entrepreneurship and foster sustainable job creation, the company said Monday.
Hana and Kwangwoon University signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday at the university’s campus in Seoul.
The program seeks to nurture young entrepreneurs, providing hands-on business education, training and resources.
Chief among the beneficiaries will be residents in remote areas with little access to infrastructure or training opportunities compared to Seoul and surrounding metropolitan areas.
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“We hope the program would provide practical experiences for young entrepreneurs, a foundation for sustainable regional economic growth,” said Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo.
This year’s program will be jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, with the number of participating universities standing at 30.
A total of 3,550 young entrepreneurs have participated in the program. Some 326 startups launched their businesses, with combined sales exceeding 20 billion won ($14 million) as of 2024.
This year’s program will focus on effective problem-solving.
Participants will analyze key local issues, lead discussions with community members and outline sustainable business models.
They will be provided with one-on-one mentoring from experienced older peers, as well as industry-specific support and marketing assistance.
A variety of workshops will be held to help them develop business ideas.
The winner will be given 150 million won.
The group runs a number of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) programs, including job matching programs for low-income and old job seekers.