Hana Financial Group said on May 8 it signed a business agreement with Kyung Hee University to help vitalise youth entrepreneurship in local communities and will recruit the fifth cohort of its youth entrepreneur development programme, Hana Social Venture University.

Hana Social Venture University is Hana Financial Group's programme to create social value by providing practical entrepreneurship training.

Hana Financial said as of end-2025 it had produced a cumulative 5,050 graduates who are aspiring young entrepreneurs. Of them, 431 startup teams are operating businesses. Cumulative job creation stands at 1,081 people.

The fifth programme will focus on AI-based entrepreneurship training. It will systematically support the entire startup process, from validating ideas to commercialisation and attracting investment. It plans to select about 1,500 aspiring entrepreneurs from 30 universities nationwide.

To reduce difficulties early-stage entrepreneurs face during commercialisation, it plans to introduce hands-on training on using AI. It also plans to support opening initial sales channels by linking online and offline distribution channels.

It plans to strengthen follow-up support such as legal advice, investment consulting and links to fundraising.

Young-joo Ham (함영주), chairman of Hana Financial, said it would continue support to create a virtuous cycle in which young people's challenges and growth lead to revitalising local economies.

Jin-sang Kim (김진상), president of Kyung Hee University, said the cooperation would further expand outcomes in youth entrepreneurship education and social value creation.