Hanwha Life CGO Dong-Won Kim Reaffirms Commitment to Strengthening South Korea-UAE Financial Cooperation at ADFW 2025

- "Advancing the South Korea–UAE '100-Year Partnership' Through Finance," the CGO said in his Opening Address
- Unveils Vision for Building a Next-Generation Global Financial Ecosystem With Abu Dhabi
- Highlights Future Agendas Including Co-Investments and Digital Asset Platform Development

SEOUL, South Korea and ABU DHABI, UAE, Dec. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dong-Won Kim, Chief Global Officer (CGO) at Hanwha Life, delivered the opening address at the Global Markets Summit during Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW) 2025 on Dec. 8, highlighting the importance of South Korea–UAE cooperation and the role of finance in strengthening bilateral ties.

The Global Markets Summit, an official session of ADFW 2025, brings together global financial leaders to examine structural changes in capital markets and discuss the future direction of international capital networks.

In his remarks, the CGO noted that "since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1980, South Korea and the UAE have continuously expanded the scope of cooperation," adding that Hanwha Finance will take the lead in carrying forward a "100-year Partnership" between the two nations for the next generation.

Dong-Won Kim emphasized that South Korea and the UAE "share a common DNA – one that transforms crises into opportunities, embraces change with courage, and values trust-based, long-term partnerships." He added that finance plays a critical role in building a sustainable financial partnership between the two countries, calling it "the catalyst that transforms the will to cooperate into feasible opportunities. It is the vital force that sustains industry and fuels innovation."

He also highlighted the importance of practical and sustainable cooperation with Abu Dhabi. "Together, with Abu Dhabi's sophisticated market infrastructure, we aim to create a new financial ecosystem," he said, projecting that future cooperation between the two countries will expand across key financial areas, including co-investments in real-world assets, supply-chain finance and cross-border payment infrastructure, and development of digital-asset platforms.

"It is our aspiration that the journey we embark upon together will become a global reference for the next generation of finance," the CGO added, reaffirming Hanwha Finance's commitment to working closely with the UAE as a core partner in future financial transformation.

The four financial affiliates of Hanwha Finance — Hanwha Life, Hanwha General Insurance, Hanwha Asset Management, and Hanwha Investment & Securities — participated in ADFW 2025 as a Premier Partner.

Hosted by ADGM under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, ADFW is the Middle East's largest financial event, serving as a platform for global financial leaders to discuss key agendas and collaborative opportunities that shape the future of finance. Now in its fourth year, ADFW 2025 is held under the theme "Engineering the Capital Network," focusing on redesigning global capital flows and building a new financial operating system that integrates traditional and digital finance. Key agenda items include on-chain finance and the development of digital financial infrastructure backed by real-world assets.

About Hanwha Finance

Hanwha Finance is a trusted financial partner that empowers individuals and communities with lifelong personal finance solutions. By integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its digital financial offerings and tailoring them to diverse lifestyles, Hanwha Finance enables people to achieve financial well-being and supports societies in pursuing sustainable growth. With $130 billion in assets under management (AUM), Hanwha Finance provides seamless digital experiences and drives sustainable growth through AI and big data technologies. Expanding beyond digital finance, Web3, and wealth management, the company is broadening its presence across comprehensive financial sectors and forming strategic partnerships to drive global financial innovation. By continuously incorporating the latest advances in digital finance, Hanwha Finance aims to make asset management even smarter and more convenient for investors worldwide.

For more information, visit:
https://www.hanwha.com/industries/finance.do

About Hanwha Life

Established in 1946, Hanwha Life is not only a leading South Korean life insurance company but also the first and oldest in the nation. For the past 78 years, Hanwha Life has played a critical role in developing the industry and expanding the country's economic growth. In 2023, Hanwha Life reported total assets of USD 113.77 billion, demonstrating its sound structure and firm commitment to adding innovative products and services that meet a wide range of customer needs.

For more information, visit:
https://www.hanwhalife.com/static/company/english/EN_0000000_P10000.htm

 

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

Hanwha Life CGO Dong-Won Kim Reaffirms Commitment to Strengthening South Korea-UAE Financial Cooperation at ADFW 2025

SANYA, China, Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Orange Lion Sports (formerly Alibaba Sports), a global sports event operator, is redefining how major athletic competitions and tourism converge through the coordinated integration of digital platforms and consumer services. The recent 2025 Hainan (Sanya) Marathon, supported by the company, showcased an "event-as-journey" experience that delivered a professionally operated, high-quality racing platform while supporting measurable economic growth for the host city. The marathon saw hotel occupancy in Sanya soar to 92%, with a notable 35% surge in spending at local businesses along the race route, establishing a promising blueprint for the scalable "racecation" model.

"We are committed to creating lasting value for athletes and sports enthusiasts," said Yang Yong, General Manager of Events and Commercialization at event partner Orange Lion Sports. "We activated resources across the Alibaba ecosystem, including Taobao, Fliggy, Alibaba Health, Ant Chain, and Amap, to extend engagement beyond race day. This approach attracted runners from across Hainan, other parts of China, and overseas, while encouraging additional event-related spending."

The provincial tourism and sports department has introduced funding incentives for 2026 sports events to attract national and international competitions. Orange Lion Sports has demonstrated how large-scale events can generate sustained economic activity and benefit local businesses by digitally integrating dining, lodging, transportation, entertainment, and shopping. In partnership with Taobao, the company launched a "Winter Warm-up Festival" that distributed tailored promotional vouchers and offers ahead of the event, designed to connect race participation with consumer engagement by introducing regional culinary specialties such as fermented vinegar hot pot and traditional Li-Miao cuisine to runners across China.

The economic benefits were sustained beyond the race period. According to Fliggy data, hotel bookings in Sanya began rising steadily from late October 2025, when event promotions launched, and remained strong throughout the marathon period. The momentum extended beyond the race, coinciding with the New Year holiday travel period. Data from the Sanya tourism bureau shows that during the 2026 New Year holiday, the city welcomed 650,800 visitor arrivals, with tourism revenue of 1.299 billion yuan (approx. US$186 million) generated, illustrating the role of the "racecation" model in supporting tourism demand.

In the future, Orange Lion Sports will harness AI technology to enhance sports events and promote fitness for all, in line with their assertion at CES in 2017: AI is the future of sports development.

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

Harnessing the Power of Sports: Orange Lion Sports Leads the Way in Driving the Emerging Trend of "Racecation"