Young China expert to spearhead Hana's globalization

Lee Eun-hyung

By Lee Kyung-min

Lee Eun-hyung, the newly appointed vice chairman of Hana Financial Group, is expected to accelerate the group's global expansion initiative.

Group Chairman Kim Jung-tai recently named Lee as one of three vice chairmen alongside former Hana Financial Investment President Lee Jin-kook and former Hana Bank CEO Ham Young-joo.

The 46-year-old, among the youngest of the group's management, will bring a fresh perspective to the group's overseas expansion drive in China, following years of experience as an academic and key industry player.

The Korea University graduate earned a master's and doctorate at Jilin University, where he later taught Northeast Asian studies before being recommended as a professor at Beijing University.

The appointment of Lee, who served as the group's vice president under the helm of Kim Seung-yu, a former group chairman, is largely considered an indication of his capabilities, experience and network management.

Lee will return to the group six years after he was recruited by China Minsheng Investment (CMI), a private equity investment service provider in 2014.

His experience as an executive vice chairman at the largest financial consulting and investment firm in China includes jointly setting up a lease-based financing firm in China with Hana Bank, the group's largest and most lucrative subsidiary.

He was also instrumental in the group's investment in Bank of Jilin, a commercial bank in China, a feat he achieved as a head of GCIC Investment, a multi-national consultancy.

The decision is considered the group's best overseas investment to date with foresight

The most pressing issue of great importance will be setting up a joint fund in the amount of 1 trillion won ($810 million) with China Investment Corporation, China's sovereign wealth fund.

His mediation skills will be key to managing possible conflict brought on by differing interests of the two countries in a high-stakes investment scheme.