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MOU ceremony on May 7 kicks off 2026 initiatives Empowering local entrepreneurs to combat regional population decline

On Thursday, May 7, Kyung Hee University and Hana Financial Group signed the “2026 Hana Social Venture University Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)” at the University Administration Building on the Seoul Campus. The signing ceremony was attended by key officials from Kyung Hee University, including President Jinsang Kim, Provost of External Affairs Jong-Bok Kim, Head of the Center for Strategic Planning Hail Park, Head of the Business Incubator Won Gu Lee, Head of the Office of Finance and Planning Do Kyun Kim, and Head of the Start-up Care Center Seok Hee Ryu. Attendees from Hana Financial Group included Hana Financial Group CEO Young-joo Ham, Hana Bank CEO Lee Ho-sung, and Hana Financial Group Deputy President Jeong-taek Oh.

Hana Social Venture University is a youth entrepreneurship training program launched by Hana Financial Group in 2022 to counter regional population decline caused by youth out-migration. In collaboration with 30 hub universities nationwide, the initiative trains around 50 local entrepreneurs per campus annually. Kyung Hee University joined this program in 2025, contributing 65 participants to the nationwide pool of 763 teams. This year’s program will kick off in the first half of the year, starting with the selection of participating teams. The program will progress through basic startup training, advanced startup training, specialized coaching for outstanding teams, and a final performance sharing event.

In 2025, Hana Financial Group selected 60 outstanding startup teams. From Kyung Hee, two teams—OCEAN FUTURE and Sniff Sniff—secured spots in this elite group. OCEAN FUTURE develops organic fertilizer made from jellyfish, a marine pest, to restore forest fire-damanged soil, while Sniff Sniff manufactures hands-free pet leashes using discarded tent fabrics. OCEAN FUTURE won the Grand Prize at the final performance sharing event and has since moved into the Kyung Hee University Campus Town Center for further business incubation.

In his welcoming address, President Jinsang Kim emphasized the changing landscape of education, stating, “In the era of AI, self-directedness is a core competency. The time when achievements were made solely based on rote knowledge has passed. Kyung Hee University actively helps students continuously learn and grow in a self-directed manner, building upon the knowledge they acquire.” He added, “Entrepreneurship is a field where this quality becomes increasingly vital. Since its founding, Kyung Hee University has recognized social contribution as a core responsibility of higher education institutions, which aligns perfectly with Hana Financial Group’s social inclusion policies. Through this collaboration, we will dedicate our educational resources to driving even stronger startup achievements.”

Responding to President Kim’s remarks, CEO Young-joo Ham expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “Based on our long-standing partnership with Kyung Hee University, I am delighted to sign this agreement for such a meaningful initiative to nurture young entrepreneurs.” He further noted, “In 2026, we will train entrepreneurs to remain competitive in a fast-paced market environment by anchoring our curriculum in AI-driven startup education. We will continue providing unsparing support to build a virtuous cycle where the challenges and growth of young people directly revitalize local economies.”