The Korean Stakeholder Management Association Holds Regular Seminar on 'The Two Faces of Private Equity Funds'

The Korean Stakeholder Management Association announced on the 25th that it will hold a regular seminar at the Dignity DGB Financial Center located in Jung-gu, Seoul.

In light of the recent rapid growth of private equity funds due to government deregulation and their emergence as new economic agents, the seminar aims to examine both the positive and negative functions of private equity funds.

On the afternoon of the 25th, attendees are taking a commemorative photo at the regular seminar of the Korean Stakeholder Management Association held at Dignity DGB Financial Center in Dadong, Jung-gu, Seoul.

The seminar will open with a welcome address by Lee Dong-gi, President of the Korean Stakeholder Management Association, followed by congratulatory remarks from Kim Seong-han, CEO of DGB Life Insurance, and Lee Jang-woo, Chairman of the Successful Economy Research Institute.

During the seminar, President Lee will present on "Private Equity Fund Investments in the Life Insurance Industry," and Professor Lee Hong of Kwangwoon University will speak on "Private Equity Funds: Cure or Poison? Domestic Cases." The session will be moderated by Associate Professor Byun In-soo of Ewha Womans University Graduate School of International Studies, with discussions by Kim Su-yeon, Research Fellow at the law firm Kwangjang, and Song Hong-seon, Senior Research Fellow at the Capital Market Institute.

President Lee stated, "Due to frequent shareholder disputes and unethical behaviors recently, stakeholders and society are increasingly demanding accountability from private equity funds. It is necessary to recognize that private equity fund investments in the life insurance industry may have negative effects on the growth and development of the industry itself and the interests of stakeholders."

Professor Lee Hong of Kwangwoon University’s Business School expressed concern, saying, "The problem lies in allowing private equity funds to dominate the private equity ecosystem as the dominant species. As seen in the dispute case between Kyobo Life Insurance and the private equity fund consortium, aggressive actions by private equity funds aiming for short-term gains can adversely affect management activities."

Established in 2022 following the "100 Declarations of Stakeholder Capitalism," the Korean Stakeholder Management Association aims to improve the Korean economy from shareholder short-term profit-centeredism to stakeholder capitalism, thereby fostering an advanced economic structure that promotes entrepreneurship and innovation.