On the 5th, Hanwha Asset Management said it held the "2025 Hanwha Asset Management Retirement Pension Seminar" the previous day at The Plaza Seoul, with about 80 attendees including retirement pension providers and corporate representatives.
The seminar was organized to establish response strategies as social debate over adopting a fund-type retirement pension system has moved into full swing.
The fund-type retirement pension system operates retirement pensions, which are dispersed by corporations, as a single integrated fund. As many participants join and achieve economies of scale that increase returns, it is expected to help raise the yield of domestic retirement pensions and secure stability.
Hanwha Asset Management is considering introducing a dedicated retirement pension asset manager framework for the fund's long-term and stable management. It is also collaborating with WTW, a global leader in retirement pensions. WTW owns LifeSight, an integrated fund that was the first in the United Kingdom to receive authorization from the financial authorities.
Bok Jae-in, head of investments for Asia at WTW, took the podium as a speaker and introduced the United Kingdom's integrated fund structure and investment management processes. Specific insights were also presented on the direction for designing Korea's fund-type model.
Bok said, "The experience of advanced overseas funds in enhancing long-term returns by pursuing expertise centered on independent boards, a strict risk management framework, and cost efficiencies through economies of scale will offer important implications for introducing a dedicated retirement pension fund manager system in Korea."
Seong Ju-ho, a professor at Kyung Hee University, analyzed the status of domestic retirement pensions and global trends and mentioned the direction of a Korea-style fund model. Seong said, "For the first time in 20 years since the introduction of the retirement pension system, a tripartite labor-management-government task force (TF) has been formed and the fund type has been selected as a core agenda," adding, "We expect this reform to become a paradigm shift in securing the public's post-retirement livelihood."
Seong went on to say, "In the Korea-style integrated fund model, it is highly likely that a dedicated fund manager will play an expanded role, going beyond executing investments to handling higher-level investment decisions through various committees."
Kim Jong-ho, CEO of Hanwha Asset Management, said, "A pension is not simply an asset for old age but a core system that determines the quality of life for future generations," adding, "Through the insights and experience of experts from academia and industry, we can further flesh out the direction of the Korea-style model for fund-type retirement pensions."