Hana Financial Group said on Tuesday it has selected Jeonbuk Innovation City as its capital market strategy centre and will build an integrated financial hub where capital-market specialised functions are concentrated.

The plan focuses on consolidating the group’s core capital market functions, including asset management, securities, custody and institutional sales, in Jeonbuk Innovation City, while simultaneously strengthening business linked to the National Pension Service fund and locally focused finance.

Hana Financial plans a phased build-out centred on relocating about 150 staff to develop Jeonbuk Innovation City into a capital market strategic base.

It will establish a new “Hana Financial Capital Market One-Roof Center” integrating key capital market functions such as asset management, alternative investment management, securities and bank custody sales, and consolidate dispersed organisations and personnel in Jeonbuk Innovation City.

Hana Insurance plans to move its Honam-region call centre, located in Wansan district of Jeonju, to Jeonbuk Innovation City to concentrate customer support functions.

It also plans to hire local talent in parallel, gradually expanding personnel and functions while pursuing both revitalisation of the local economy and job creation.

Through this, it plans to build an operating base combining capital market functions and customer support functions, and strengthen investment finance for venture and innovative companies. It also envisions developing Jeonju in North Jeolla into a key base for finance linked to the National Pension Service fund.

◆Support for youth entrepreneurship and a growth ecosystem

It will also expand support to boost youth jobs and the startup ecosystem.

Through “Hana OneQ Agile Lab”, it will provide startup-only office space using idle space in the North Jeolla region and support mentoring, collaboration and investment linkages. It also plans to continue hands-on startup education linked with Kunsan National University, Wonkwang University and Jeonju University, based on “Hana Social Venture University.”

It will also strengthen financial and non-financial support for small business owners. It plans to enhance the competitiveness of local commercial districts by supporting high-efficiency energy equipment and digital transformation devices, and improving business-site environments.

It plans to increase financial access and expand credit support through guaranteed loans linked with the North Jeolla Credit Guarantee Foundation, while pursuing tailored productive finance and inclusive finance that includes improving management conditions and expanding sales foundations.

A Hana Financial official said, “North Jeolla is a strategic key point where capital market growth and revitalisation of the local economy can be achieved at the same time.” The official added, “We will build a financial ecosystem centred on a hub where capital market functions are concentrated, spanning employment, startups, support for small business owners, culture and education.”