The Core of 'Value Up' Is Overseas Investors... Lee Bok-hyun and Jung Eun-bo Head to New York

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The Financial Supervisory Service and Korea Exchange announced on the 19th that they held a joint investor relations (IR) event on the 16th (local time) at the Conrad New York Downtown Hotel to support the internationalization of the Korean financial industry, together with Seoul and Busan cities and the financial sector. The photo shows (from left) Lee Myung-ho, President of Busan International Financial Promotion Agency; Hong Won-hak, President of Samsung Life Insurance; Kim Mi-seop, CEO of Mirae Asset Securities; Harvey Schwartz, CEO of The Carlyle Group; Yang Jong-hee, Chairman of KB Financial Group; Kim Eui-hwan, Consul General of the New York Consulate General in Korea; Lee Bok-hyun, Governor of the Financial Supervisory Service; Jung Eun-bo, Chairman of Korea Exchange; Kang Cheol-won, Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs of Seoul Metropolitan Government; Jin Ok-dong, Chairman of Shinhan Financial Group; Daniel Simkowitz, Co-CEO of Morgan Stanley; Kim Sung-hwan, CEO of Korea Investment & Securities; Jo Yong-il, CEO of Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance; and Kim Ki-joon, Korea Representative of JP Morgan. Photo by Reporter

Lee Bok-hyun, Governor of the Financial Supervisory Service, and Jung Eun-bo, Chairman of the Korea Exchange, visited New York to promote 'K-Finance' including the 'Corporate Value-Up Policy.' This was a large-scale overseas business trip accompanied by CEOs of six major domestic financial companies, along with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Busan Metropolitan City, and financial holding companies. The purpose was to enhance external credibility and build trust by enabling direct communication between supervisory authorities, the exchange, local governments, and top executives of major financial companies with overseas investors.

The core of this year’s government-wide value-up policy is the active participation of global investors. For the success of the value-up program, three pillars must work smoothly together: voluntary participation of companies, active interest from investors, and systematic support from the exchange and related institutions. This is why the interest and feedback of overseas investors are essential.

Joint IR Held in New York... Over 300 Participants

On the 16th (local time), the Financial Supervisory Service and the Korea Exchange held a joint investor relations (IR) session at the Conrad Downtown Hotel in New York, together with Seoul and Busan metropolitan governments and the financial sector, to support the internationalization of Korea’s financial industry, the 19th announcement stated.

The financial companies participating in this IR included KB Financial Group, Shinhan Financial Group, Mirae Asset Securities, Korea Investment & Securities, Samsung Life Insurance, and Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance. The scale increased especially with the participation of the Korea Exchange, which was not involved last year. Key government and private sector figures also attended. Approximately 240 employees of global investment firms, Kim Eui-hwan, Consul General in New York, officials from Seoul (Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs), Busan (Director of Busan International Financial City Promotion Agency), and financial company representatives, totaling over 300 people, participated.

Governor Lee Bok-hyun and Chairman Jung Eun-bo traveled together on this overseas trip to promote the government-wide capital market advancement policy and corporate value-up program to overseas investors. They supported the overseas expansion and fundraising conditions of domestic financial companies and investment attraction, while also introducing Korea’s financial industry and financial center map.

The event was divided into two parts: a 'Dialogue with Overseas Investors (Q&A)' panel featuring Governor Lee Bok-hyun, Chairman Jung Eun-bo, and representatives of participating financial companies, and individual IR meetings and networking sessions between participating financial companies and global investors.

Governor Lee emphasized, "The Korean financial system has expanded its loss absorption capacity and is equipped with sufficient crisis response capabilities across all sectors," adding, "Based on the high soundness of the financial industry, we are improving the economic structure through active restructuring." He continued, "The Korean government and financial authorities are steadily pursuing advanced policies for the domestic capital market to support corporate growth and citizens’ asset accumulation," and expressed hope that "Korea’s policy efforts will serve as a sufficient opportunity not only to expand global investors’ investments but also to create synergy between foreign financial institutions entering Korea and domestic financial institutions expanding overseas."

Chairman Jung Eun-bo presented the goal of the corporate value-up program as resolving the 'Korea Discount' phenomenon in the Korean capital market, sharing key plans such as △finalizing guidelines for corporate value enhancement plans △launching an integrated value-up webpage △developing a value-up index. He stressed, "For the success of the value-up program, voluntary participation of companies, active interest from investors, and systematic support from the exchange and related institutions are necessary," and added, "The Korea Exchange will also pursue the program with a long-term perspective to establish it as a corporate culture in the Korean capital market."

Consul General Kim Eui-hwan in New York stated, "Korean financial professionals stationed in New York will spare no effort as frontline economic salespeople." Harvey Schwartz, CEO of The Carlyle Group, said, "We appreciate Korea’s active communication with global investors and hope that The Carlyle Group, as a Korea-US business partner, can contribute to the Korean government’s efforts to advance the capital market." Daniel Simkowitz, Co-CEO of Morgan Stanley, expressed respect for "the achievements and internationalization efforts of Korean financial companies" and wished for "cooperation and development between the financial markets of both countries."

Direct Explanation of Financial Market Issues such as Short Selling and Real Estate PF

Governor Lee Bok-hyun and Chairman Jung Eun-bo also participated directly in the panel discussion, responding to questions from overseas investors. Governor Lee engaged in in-depth discussions with participants on government-wide policy tasks including capital market advancement, short selling policies, and risk management of financial market issues such as real estate project financing (PF). Chairman Jung provided detailed explanations on the expected effects of corporate value-up support measures on the Korean stock market and shared the Korea Exchange’s initiatives and future plans to expand foreign investor attraction. Representatives of financial companies introduced their respective corporate value-up directions and shared response strategies according to the financial environment and ways to secure new growth engines through globalization.

Governor Lee also held one-on-one meetings with major global investors such as representatives from Carlyle, Morgan Stanley, and Blackstone. He widely promoted stock market advancement measures and listened to opinions on capital market development plans. He also attended individual IR sessions of participating financial companies and meetings with global investors, encouraging internationalization efforts such as local entry into the U.S. market. He expressed a commitment to continuously pursue capital market advancement policies to improve the investment environment for attracting global investors and domestic market entry.

Going forward, the Financial Supervisory Service plans to continue promoting overseas IR in various ways. As part of strengthening promotion for the internationalization of the financial industry, it will carry out new initiatives included in the '6th Basic Plan for the Establishment and Development of Financial Centers.'

Meanwhile, on the 17th (local time), Governor Lee Bok-hyun held a breakfast meeting with the Korean Financial Society (KFS), the largest nonprofit Korean-American financial organization in the U.S. He requested Korean financial professionals on Wall Street to serve as a bridge for capital market advancement policies and Korea-US investment, and listened to opinions on the direction of financial industry development.