SK Telecom, SK Square (CEO Park Jeong-ho), and Hana Financial Group (Chairman Ham Young-joo) are cooperating in three major areas to lead the development of the ICT and financial industry ecosystems.

SKT and Hana Financial Group announced that they exchanged large-scale stakes worth 400 billion won and entered into a strategic partnership last July, and that SK Square subsequently joined in to form a synergy council.

The three companies are pursuing cooperation in three major areas: joint response to the future through hyper-cooperation, creation of new customer value through business cooperation, and expansion of positive influence through cooperation in creating social value.

■ Promoting Web 3.0 investment, pseudonymized data combination, etc.

The three companies will work together on investments in promising future sectors and the promotion of innovative businesses utilizing AI technology and data.

We are conducting joint investments to promote the expansion and popularization of the Web 3.0 ecosystem. The three companies expect to be able to invest in new forms of services and platforms where ICT technology and finance can be combined.

In addition, there are plans to enhance alternative credit scoring models and develop new services or products by combining anonymized non-financial information from SKT and SK Square subsidiaries with financial information from Hana Financial Group. Furthermore, they will proceed with the launch of lifestyle and financial services that integrate both companies' data with MyData services, as well as marketing cooperation utilizing big data.

■ New Product Launch… Enhancing Customer Value

SKT and Hana Financial Group plan to launch a new card that combines ICT and financial benefits to provide lifestyle-oriented advantages.

In addition, they plan to launch a subscription product that combines SKT's ICT with Hana Financial Group's financial services. The two companies announced that they will offer preferential savings interest rates and currency exchange fees on T Uju, and will also launch a service that provides roaming and currency exchange benefits to customers traveling abroad.

Hana Financial Group is considering establishing an AI Contact Center (AICC) utilizing SKT's AI technology for its affiliates. In addition, they are pursuing metaverse financial live commerce by linking SKT's metaverse platform 'e-friend' with Hana Bank's live broadcasts.

In addition, SKT plans to introduce Hana Bank's chatbot service 'Hi Chatbot' and utility bill payment services to Btv, and support Hana Financial Group's cloud advancement by leveraging SKT's cloud capabilities.

■ Fostering Digital Talent and Co-prosperity with Small Business Owners

To create social value as part of ESG management, SKT and Hana Financial Group provide ICT and financial education together to youth and underprivileged children by linking SKT's 'Happiness Coding School' with Hana Financial Group's financial education.

In addition, SKT is supporting Hana Financial Group's 'Hana Digital Power On' project with digital education programs and mentoring in areas such as AI and ICT. Next year, SKT and Hana Financial Group plan to jointly expand and operate the program.

Hana Financial Group is joining forces to foster startups by participating in 'ESG Korea' and providing mentoring programs for ESG startups, ranging from business planning to the establishment of management infrastructure.

SK Square and Hana Financial Group are cooperating to foster mutual growth with small business owners. SK Shielders, a subsidiary of SK Square, plans to join Hana Financial Group's support program for small business owners and provide services such as payment and security at discounted prices.

"It is significant that we have achieved the first fruit of hyper-cooperation between ICT and financial leaders," said SKT CEO Yoo Young-sang. "Going forward, we will continue to cooperate closely around three key areas for ICT-finance innovation to drive the development of the ICT and financial industry ecosystems, taking the lead in enhancing customer value and expanding positive influence."

“Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo stated, ‘Hana Financial Group and SK Telecom have joined forces to take the first step toward leading digital financial innovation,’ adding, ‘I look forward to jointly responding to the आने future and pioneering a new era of shared growth by spreading positive influence for our society and creating new customer value.’”