Chairman Ham Youngjoo of Hana Financial Group: "We Must Lead for Everyone's Happiness with 'One DNA'"

20th Anniversary Celebration of Group's Founding
Chairman Ham Youngjoo: "With 'One DNA,' We Must Lead in Achieving 'The Essence of Finance?Happiness for All' and 'Future Growth'"

On the 1st, at Hana Financial Group's Myeongdong headquarters, Chairman Ham Youngjoo (fourth from the left) is cutting a cake celebrating the group's 20th anniversary together with the group vice chairmen, the representative of Hana Bank employees who joined in 2005, and the representative of affiliate employees who joined in 2025. Hana Financial Group

"The essence of finance is the happiness of all, and going forward, our employees must take the lead to help stakeholders achieve growth and realize their dreams."

Ham Youngjoo, Chairman of Hana Financial Group, made these remarks at the group's 20th anniversary event held at the Myeongdong headquarters on December 1. Over 200 employees, including Chairman Ham, attended the ceremony to celebrate Hana Financial Group reaching its 20th year. The event was organized to express gratitude to the customers, society, shareholders, and employees who have supported Hana Financial Group for the past 20 years, and to reaffirm the group's commitment to adding value to the world.

Chairman Ham shared the anniversary slogan, "One DNA, One Promise," with employees, emphasizing that Hana Financial Group has never settled for the status quo amid changes in Korea's financial environment. Instead, the group has chosen to "evolve" for survival, building a unique history of challenges and growth. He highlighted the "One DNA" that has proven these achievements and shared this spirit with the employees.

He stated, "Hana Financial Group began with just two branches, 347 employees, and as the 22nd entrant in the banking sector. Yet, with 'One DNA,' we overcame numerous crises such as the IMF financial crisis and the Lehman Brothers collapse, recognized each other's diversity, and grew into one of the healthiest financial groups." He added, "I am truly grateful to the many predecessors and to all current Hana members who continue to give their best at home and abroad, helping us grow into what we are today."

He also stressed that the "One DNA" embedded within the group over the past 20 years is the driving force that will sustain the group for the next 100 years, and reaffirmed Hana Financial Group's promise to add value to the world beyond finance based on this DNA.

The event reflected on the group's 175,200 hours (20 years) of history and proceeded with the following: sharing the "One DNA" created together, expressing gratitude and encouragement to employees who contributed to the 20th anniversary, a conversation with the management, an introduction to the group's commemorative history book, and a celebratory ceremony.

In particular, during the candid and sincere "Conversation with Management," Chairman Ham reiterated, "The essence of finance is the happiness of all," and urged all employees to continue taking the lead so that the growth and dreams of stakeholders-including customers, shareholders, and the broader community-can be realized.

Reflecting on the group's history, he said, "Hana Financial Group started as Korea Investment Finance, and has grown through the spirit of 'Hanadawoom'-transforming into a bank in 1991, becoming a financial holding company in 2005, and launching the integrated Hana Bank in 2015 to become a mega bank. We must lead the next 100 years based on the 'One DNA' handed down by our predecessors."

Looking ahead, Hana Financial Group plans to revisit the "One DNA" that has pioneered uncharted paths, and, under the vision of "adding value to the world beyond finance through a great transformation in a rapidly changing environment," will embark on a bold new journey.

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