Hana Financial Group's university student external activity programme, the SMART ambassadors, has completed its 20th cohort, bringing total graduates to 1,110.

Hana Financial said on Aug. 30 it held a closing ceremony for the 20th SMART ambassadors on Aug. 28 at its Myeong-dong building in Seoul.

The SMART ambassadors are Hana Financial's ambassador programme for university students. Including 50 participants in the 20th cohort, total graduates stand at 1,110. This year's recruitment drew 1,642 applicants, for a competition ratio of about 33 to 1.

Key activities included brand marketing such as operating a promotional booth at Daejeon Hana Citizen home matches, social contribution work for vulnerable groups such as children and seniors, an on-site tour of the Cheongna group headquarters, and producing a guidebook for mutual growth for local residents.

They also took part in volunteer work in Indonesia to create the Hana Happy Class, carrying out efforts such as improving educational environments.

The closing ceremony also included awards for the Idea League, in which participants propose new business and marketing ideas related to future finance.

The 20th SMART ambassadors plan to continue promoting Hana Financial news online after the official programme ends, engage with past graduates and take part in the group's ESG activities.

Lee Eun-hyung (이은형), vice chairman of Hana Financial, said, "I hope the experiences university students built will help them grow in their respective fields." He added, "We will expand youth-tailored growth support programmes so young people can demonstrate their capabilities."