SKT and Hana Financial Group Collaborate on Web 3.0 and MyData

Cooperation in Future Joint Response, Customer Value Creation, ESG, and More
Promoting Various Collaborations Including Web 3.0 Investment and Pseudonymized Data Integration
Enhancing Customer Value Through New Card and Financial Subscription Product Launches
Training Practical Digital Talent and Fostering Win-Win Cooperation with Small Businesses

Yu Sang-young, President of SKT (fourth from the left in the front row), and Ham Young-joo, Chairman of Hana Financial Group (fifth from the left in the front row), along with other key executives from SKT and Hana Financial Group, are attending a commemorative photo session at a meeting to share collaborative business projects.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] SK Telecom (SKT) announced on the 20th that it will collaborate with SK Square and Hana Financial Group to innovate the information and communication technology (ICT) and financial industries.

SKT, SK Square, and Hana Financial Group have identified various tasks in three key areas: ▲future joint response through ultra-cooperation ▲creating new customer value through business collaboration ▲spreading positive influence through cooperation in creating social value, and will actively promote collaborative projects. Earlier, SKT and Hana Financial Group exchanged large-scale shares worth around 400 billion KRW and established a strategic partnership in July. Subsequently, SK Square also joined, forming a synergy council, and executives in charge of major collaborative projects from the three companies held several meetings.

Promotion of Web 3.0 Investment and Pseudonymized Data Integration

The three companies agreed to jointly pursue innovative projects utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) technology and data, starting from investments in promising future sectors to proactively respond to the rapidly changing ICT and financial industry ecosystems.

They will jointly invest to expand and popularize the Web 3.0 ecosystem. Web 3.0 is recognized as a new evolutionary direction of future platforms characterized by decentralization. Since blockchain, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) are representative examples of the Web 3.0 era, the three companies expect to invest in new types of services and platforms where ICT technology and finance can be combined.

Additionally, they plan to enhance alternative credit evaluation models by combining pseudonymized non-financial information from SKT and SK Square subsidiaries with financial information from Hana Financial Group, and develop new services or products using these models. They will also launch lifestyle and financial services combining both companies’ data and MyData services, and collaborate on marketing using big data.

Launch of New Card and Financial Subscription Products

SKT and Hana Financial Group will also integrate their products such as cards, subscriptions, and roaming. They plan to launch a new card that consolidates ICT and financial benefits to provide customers with industry-leading lifestyle-oriented perks. They intend to improve the 'CLUB SK Card,' which has been steadily loved by 1.5 million customers over the past decade.

SKT and Hana Financial Group have previously drawn strong customer responses by offering exceptional benefits such as 24-month interest-free installments at SKT’s T Direct Shop, which doubled the number of transactions made with Hana Card.

They also plan to launch subscription products combining SKT’s ICT and Hana Financial Group’s financial services. The companies are finalizing plans to release subscription services on T Universe that offer preferential interest rates on savings and reduced currency exchange fees. They will also launch services providing roaming and currency exchange benefits for customers traveling abroad.

Hana Financial Group is reviewing the establishment of an AI Contact Center (AICC) using SKT’s AI technology for its affiliates. Additionally, they will promote metaverse financial live commerce by linking SKT’s metaverse platform 'ifland' with Hana Bank’s live broadcasts.

Furthermore, SKT will introduce Hana Bank’s chatbot service ‘Hi Chatbot’ and utility bill payment services on Btv, and support the advancement of Hana Financial Group’s cloud infrastructure.

Digital Talent Development and Win-Win with Small Businesses

The three companies have agreed to participate in spreading positive influence through social value creation as part of ESG management.

SKT and Hana Financial Group will provide combined ICT and financial education by linking SKT’s 'Happy Coding School' with Hana Financial Group’s financial education programs targeting youth and vulnerable children.

SKT will support AI, ICT, and other digital education programs and mentoring for the 'Hana Digital Power On' project, which Hana Financial Group has planned to nurture practical digital talents and offer new growth opportunities to the younger generation. Next year, SKT and Hana Financial Group plan to jointly expand and operate the youth digital talent development program to maximize its effectiveness.

SKT and Hana Financial Group will also collaborate to foster startups. Hana Financial Group will participate in ‘ESG Korea,’ operated by SKT since 2021 to nurture ESG startups, providing mentoring programs from business planning to management infrastructure building for ESG startups.

SK Square and Hana Financial Group will cooperate to support small businesses. SK Square’s subsidiary SK Shieldus will join Hana Financial Group’s small business store support program to offer payment and security services at discounted prices to small business owners.

SKT CEO Yoo Young-sang stated, “We will continue to closely cooperate around the three key areas to lead the development of the ICT and financial industry ecosystems, enhancing customer value and expanding positive influence through ICT-finance innovation.”

Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo said, “We look forward to jointly responding to the coming future and pioneering a new era of co-growth through spreading positive influence for our society and creating new customer value.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.