Park Han-sol reports on Korea's financial regulators, along with fintech and insurance. She previously wrote about the art world, from biennales and exhibitions to fairs and auctions, with a focus on Seoul and the figures shaping the scene. Before joining The Korea Times, she spent a year at ABC News' Seoul bureau, contributing to coverage of major Asia-Pacific events.
Hana Institute of Finance hosts seminar on productive finance
Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo delivers a congratulatory address at a seminar on the role of productive finance, jointly hosted by the Hana Institute of Finance, Korea Institute of Finance and the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade, in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Hana Financial Group
By Park Han-sol
The Hana Institute of Finance held a joint seminar Thursday with the Korea Institute of Finance and the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade (KIET) to discuss the role of productive finance in supporting industrial growth, Hana Financial Group said Sunday.
The event examined how industrial and financial policies can be better aligned to strengthen national competitiveness amid ongoing shifts in global supply chains. Participants also discussed ways to improve coordination between public and private financing and how support frameworks for future high-tech industries could evolve.
In a congratulatory address, Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo emphasized the role of private financial institutions in driving industrial transformation.
“Industrial ecosystems at home and abroad are rapidly shifting toward tech-driven sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), data and energy. To keep pace with these changes, financial and industrial policies must work in tandem as complementary pillars of the country’s growth strategy,” he said.
The chairman noted how financial institutions should move beyond simply supplying capital and take a broader role in fostering new industries. “We need to deepen our understanding of industrial policy while improving our ability to identify and evaluate companies with strong growth potential.”
Ham also highlighted the importance of ensuring that financial support reaches a broad range of businesses.
“Productive finance can only be fully realized when support extends beyond future industries to include foundational sectors and countless small and medium-sized manufacturers that underpin the wider economy,” he said.
As part of that effort, Hana Financial has raised its productive finance target for this year to 17.8 trillion won ($11.7 billion), 1.6 trillion won more than its original plan. The total includes 2.5 trillion won earmarked for the National Growth Fund and expanded venture investments, along with 12.8 trillion won in lending.
The group is also seeking to bolster its industry expertise. Under a memorandum of understanding signed by the Hana Institute of Finance and KIET in April, KIET researchers will be invited to speak at Hana Financial’s quarterly Hana One-IB Market Forum on changes in the industrial landscape and their implications for financial institutions.