Hana Financial to help out-of-school youth return to education

Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo poses after signing an agreement on launching the Youth Bridge project in Yeouido, Seoul, Friday. From second from left are Korea Youth Counseling & Welfare Institute Chair Han Jung-won, Ham, Federation of Korean Industries Chairman Ryu Jin and EBS President & CEO Kim Yu-yeol. Courtesy of Hana Financial Group

Hana Financial Group has launched a new initiative aimed at helping out-of-school youth return to education and rebuild their lives.

The program, titled Youth Bridge, brings together four partners — Hana Financial Group, the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), the Korea Youth Counseling & Welfare Institute (KYCI) and broadcaster EBS — under a joint agreement signed Friday.

The initiative targets those aged 9 to 24 who have discontinued their formal education, often due to psychological or social challenges. By pooling their expertise, the four organizations will build an integrated support system that addresses their emotional well-being and pathways back to school or into the workforce.

The financial group is set to anchor the program with hands-on support. This includes offline job training, as well as financial education covering topics such as credit management and fraud prevention. It will also expand efforts to prevent and treat illegal gambling, building on a project worth roughly 10 billion won ($6.64 million) launched in 2024 with the Financial Supervisory Service.

Also being offered is a tour of Hana’s headquarters, including “Hana Infinity Seoul,” home to one of the country’s largest dealing rooms, as well as the bank’s anti-counterfeiting response center.

Each partner plays a distinct role.

The FKI will design and run alternative education programs tailored to out-of-school youth. The KYCI is tasked with discovering eligible participants through its network of 222 youth support centers across the country.

EBS will offer online learning materials and a digital platform to help students prepare for qualification exams equivalent to a formal education diploma and the College Scholastic Ability Test.

“Youth Bridge will act as a stepping stone for out-of-school youth seeking a fresh start,” Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo said. “Supporting these young people is a responsibility that society as a whole must take on.”