Park Hyeon-Joo

Park Hyeon-joo
Park in the office
Born
Gwangju, South Korea
CitizenshipSouth Korea
Alma materKorea University (BA)
Occupation(s)Businessman, investor, and philanthropist
Known forPioneering financial industry in South Korea
TitleFounder and Global Strategy Officer (GSO) of Mirae Asset Financial Group

Park Hyeon-joo is a South Korean billionaire business magnate and representative investment strategist. He is the founder of Mirae Asset Financial Group, which consists of asset management, investment banking, stock brokerage, life insurance, venture capital, and other financial services.

Park was born in Gwangju. He graduated from Gwangju Cheil High School in 1977, and received his bachelor's degree in business from Korea University in 1983.

Park founded Mirae Asset Global Investment and Mirae Asset Capital in 1997, Mirae Asset Securities (hereinafter referred to as Mirae Asset Daewoo) in 1999, and subsequently founded Mirae Asset Venture Capital and so forth, and made Mirae Asset become Korea's leading independent financial conglomerate.

Park brought the concept of the mutual fund as well as real-estate fund, and private equity fund into Korea's financial market which has changed its market dramatically from conventional to innovation.

Park is a prominent philanthropist, pledging to donate all his dividend payouts of shares to Mirae Asset Park Hyeon Joo Foundation, founded in 2000 with his own wealth, since 2010.[1] The foundation has been providing scholarships to underprivileged students and other outreach programs which have accumulated to around 270,000 students. (as of February 2019)

Park has been appointed as Global Strategy Officer (GSO) of Mirae Asset Financial Group in order to focus on global business and stepped down as a chairman of Mirae Asset Daewoo as of May 23, 2018.

Early life

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Park was born in Gwangju.

His father had passed away on the day when Park received the admission letter to Gwangju Cheil high school.

Park's mother always emphasized on integrity, trust, and sincerity which kept him straight whilst wandering after his father passed away.

Park has come to Seoul after getting admission from Korea University and lived by himself. Park began to get interested in the stock market after catching the saying that "there is no improvement of capitalism without the development of the capital market". He, then, started to invest in listed stocks with the allowance that his mother sent since his Sophomore year of the college, and he was credited for the well-known stock investing college student amid Myeong-dong, Seoul.

Park has become to believe that the long-term investment on the blue-chip stock would eventually bring about good results and come up with the concept of value investing from the early stock experiences.[2]

Business career

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Early business career

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In 1985, at the age of 27, Park established an investment advisory services company on his own. He, then, joined Tongyang Securities in 1986. In 1988, Park left for Hanshin Investment Advisory Services company, which has changed its name into Dongwon Securities[3] in April 1996, and acquired by Korea Investment Holdings in June 2005. Park managed the portfolio and recorded the highest return out of all the portfolio during the year. He, however, had been relocated to one of the branches at the time where the KOSPI rallied record-high of 1,007.77 pt and continuously down-turning afterward leading to recession. Despite having gone through hardship, he soon became a director of the branch at the age of 33, the youngest director in the company, and demonstrated the highest result out of 1,000 branches.

He recognized how important it is to trust and support each of the colleague's capability when managing a team, an organization, and this teamwork has become one of Mirae Asset Financial Group's core value. The vision of the branch has been "go forward in order to spin the pinwheel although there are no winds", and this is how Park could have had overcome hardship at his first experience of being a head of a branch. Park received numerous offers proposing a remarkable salary, however, he cannot but reject all the offers in order to achieve his long-cherished dream and goal.[4]

Foundation of Mirae Asset Financial Group

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Hyeonjoo Park founded Mirae Asset Global Investments and Mirae Asset Capital in June 1997 right after leaving the previous company.  Within 6 months after the foundation, Mirae Asset suffered from 1997 financial crisis of South Korea, however, showed a tremendous investment performance by believing in South Korea's economy to rebound with contrary investment insights where Park is notable for his adherence to long-term and value investing.

In December 1998, Park launched the first retail mutual fund, "Park Hyeon Joo No.1" in South Korea and The Journal of Investment & Pension described that this fund was a great success.[5]

Merge and acquisition of Mirae Asset Financial Group

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Park has grown Mirae Asset Financial Group into an independent financial conglomerate in South Korea by successfully acquiring a number of financial companies with his contrary investment philosophy and insights.

  • 2004.02 Acquired SK Investment Trust Company, an affiliates of SK Group
  • 2005.06 Acquired SK Life Insurance, an affiliates of SK Group[6][7]
  • 2011.11 Acquired Horizon ETF,[8] a major ETF player in Canada
  • 2011.11 Acquired BetaShares, a major ETF player in Australia
  • 2016.12 Merge and acquisition of Daewoo Securities and Mirae Asset Securities[9][10][11][12]
  • 2016.12 Acquired KDB asset management company,[13] formerly owned by Korea Development Bank
  • 2017.07 Invested Vietnamese life insurance company, PRÉVOIR[14]  
  • 2017.12 Acquired Korea-based PCA Life Insurance[15][16]
  • 2018.07 Acquired GlobalX,[17] US ETF company

Global expansion led by Park

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Founder Park always has in mind to expand the business globally since the early stage, and is regarded as a global forerunner in South Korean financial industry.[18][19]

  • 2003.12 Established Mirae Asset Global Investment HK
  • 2006.09 Established Mirae Asset Global Investment Vietnam (Hanoi)
  • 2006.11 Established Mirae Asset Global Investment India
  • 2007.01 Established Mirae Asset Securities HK
  • 2007.03 Established Mirae Asset Global Investment UK
  • 2007.07 Established Mirae Asset Global Investment Beijing
  • 2007.12 Established Mirae Asset Securities Vietnam
  • 2008.02 Established Mirae Asset Investment Advisory Beijing
  • 2008.04 Established Mirae Asset Global Investment US
  • 2008.04 Established Mirae Asset Global Investment Brazil
  • 2008.08 Established Mirae Asset Securities US
  • 2008.08 Established Mirae Asset Investment Advisory Shanghai[20][21]
  • 2010.08 Established Mirae Asset Securities Brazil
  • 2012.10 Established Horizons ETFs LatAM[22][23]
  • 2016.01 Established Mirae Asset Global Investment Australia
  • 2017.10 Established Mirae Asset Daewoo India
  • 2019.09 Formed GlobalX Japan joint ventured with Daiwa Securities[24][25]

Notable global investments led by Park

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Park led to achieving notable global investment activities of noteworthy landmarks in primary cities.

Philanthropy

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"Rather than becoming the richest person in Korea, I want to be the greatest philanthropist," he says. Since founding Mirae Asset, he has set 'social responsibility' one of the company's core values and established foundations dedicated to nurturing talent. In a letter to employees in 2008, he promised to use all his dividends from 2010 onwards for the benefit of the nation's youth. True to his word, he has been donating all his dividends from Mirae Asset to the foundation every year.[39]

In 2015, he donated 2 billion KRW of his personal fortune to the 'Youth Hope Fund', a project aimed at resolving youth unemployment.[40] In 2023, he pledged to donate up to 25% of his shares in Mirae Asset Consulting to the Mirae Asset Hope Foundation to support the development of science and technology in South Korea and the nurturing of talent.[41]

Mirae Asset Park Hyeon Joo Foundation

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The Mirae Asset Park Hyeon Joo Foundation is a social welfare corporation established by Park Hyeon-joo in 2000 with a personal investment of 7.5 billion KRW. Under the slogan "Mirae Asset will be the hope of the youth," the foundation operates scholarship programs and various educational support initiatives aimed at nurturing talent. Notably, the foundation's overseas exchange scholarship program has grown to be the largest of its kind in Korea.[42]

The main projects of the foundation are as follows:

  • Global Exchange Scholarship Program: Provides academic encouragement grants for domestic undergraduate students participating in overseas exchange programs.
  • Future Generation Support Program: Offers overseas cultural exploration, digital experience education, customized book support, facility operating expenses, and cultural experience program activities for children residing in welfare facilities.
  • Donation Culture: Operates employee participation donation programs, matching grants, and special donation programs.

Mirae Asset Hope Foundation

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Park, honoring the wishes of his greatest mentor, his mother, established the Mirae Asset Hope Foundation in 1998.[43]

He has stated, "I have always thought of money as being like a flower. When earned and spent righteously, money is as beautiful as a flower." He added, "The person who instilled this philosophy in me was my greatest mentor, my mother. Reflecting on the teachings that shaped me, I established the foundation in her hometown." Since its establishment, the foundation has been providing scholarships for academic and personal development to university students in Korea.

Mirae Asset Foundation in India

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Park has also engaged in establishing Mirae Asset Foundation in Mumbai, India in order to facilitate qualitative educational environments and more opportunities for young people in India. Its incorporation date is January 3, 2018.[44][45]

Honors and awards

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'Mr Park is the father of the Korean mutual fund industry and is now an asset investment advisor in 12 countries,' said AIB, 'He has significantly improved the company's reputation and performance on the international stage, and has been recognised for his impeccable integrity and performance by stakeholders and competitors alike.' This is only the second time a South Korean has won the award since the late SK Group Chairman Choi Chung-hyun in 1995.

Bibliography

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Harvard Business School case study

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The successful story of Park and Mirae Asset Financial Group in such a short period of time within a decade was the first Asian financial company to be selected by Harvard Business School as a case study.

Mirae Asset: Korea's Mutual Fund Pioneer[46][47][48]

Seoul National University case study - the case centre

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Mirae Asset: A Disruptive Innovator in the Korean Financial Industry[49]

AIB (Academy of International Business) International Executive of the Year Award

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In July 2024, he was named International CEO of the Year by the Academy of International Business (AIB), the world's most prestigious management academic organisation. He is the first Asian financier to be honoured, and only the second Korean to win the award since the late SK Group Chairman Choi Chung-hyun in 1995.

The Academy of International Business (AIB), headquartered in Michigan, USA, is the largest academic organisation in the field of international business, conducting research, cross-national academic exchanges, and seminars. Its membership includes more than 3,400 professionals from more than 90 countries, including renowned academics and global industry leaders.

Park was recognised for his leadership in developing Mirae Asset Group into a world-class investment bank. 'He is the father of Korea's mutual fund industry and is now an asset investment advisor in 12 countries,' said AIB. 'He has significantly improved the company's reputation and performance on the international stage and has been recognised by stakeholders and competitors alike for his impeccable integrity and performance.'

Books about Park

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  • Money is a beautiful flower, Park Hyeon Joo, Kim Young Sa, 27 August 2007, ISBN 978-89-349-2580-4
  • Park Hyeon Joo, creating a better future, Chan-Sun Hong, Young-Am Park, Sung-Ju Oh, Sung-Ho Kim and Byung-Yoon Chung, Olim, 5 October 2007, ISBN 978-89-958839-8-3

Park's interviews

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References

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  1. ^ "Mirae Asset's Park Hyeon-joo donates dividends for 8th straight year". www.theinvestor.co.kr. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  2. ^ Park, Hyeon Joo (2007). Money is beautiful flower. South Korea: Kim Young Sa. pp. 15–19. ISBN 978-89-349-2580-4.
  3. ^ "동원증권㈜". terms.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  4. ^ Park, Hyeon Joo (2007). Money is beautiful flower. South Korea: Kim Young Sa. pp. 67–84. ISBN 978-89-349-2580-4.
  5. ^ "Mirae Asset's focus on global emerging markets - Asia Asset Management - The Journal of Investments & Pensions". www.asiaasset.com. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  6. ^ "South Korea: Mirae Asset Buys SK Life". Asia Insurance Review. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  7. ^ "Mirae eyes bid to keep SK Life in Korean hands". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  8. ^ "Mirae Asset Completes Acquisition of 85% Stake in Horizons ETFs". www.businesswire.com. 2011-11-14. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  9. ^ NexChange. "Mirae's Park Hyeon-joo to take control of Daewoo Securities | NexChange". nexchange.com. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  10. ^ "Mirae Asset Daewoo, Mirae Asset Securities complete merger". www.spglobal.com. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  11. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-03-27. Retrieved 2019-03-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ "Mirae Asset Daewoo (Korea): Merger with Mirae Asset Securities (Korea) Changes in FTSE4Good Index Series". FTSE. 12 December 2016. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  13. ^ "Stocks". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  14. ^ "S.Korea's Mirae invests $48.4 mln in Vietnamese insurance firm". Reuters. 2017-07-05. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  15. ^ "BRIEF-MIRAE ASSET Life Insurance to merge with PCA Life Insurance". Reuters. 2017-06-26. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  16. ^ "Mirae Asset Life's acquisition of PCA Life clears regulatory hurdle - Pulse by Maeil Business News Korea". pulsenews.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  17. ^ "Mirae Asset secures foothold in overseas ETF business". The Korea Herald. 2018-08-28. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  18. ^ "Mirae Asset to expand presence in Asia: founder says in letter to employees". The Korea Herald. 2019-03-26. Retrieved 2019-03-28.
  19. ^ "Korea's Mirae Asset Group to enter Japan for bigger global outreach - Pulse by Maeil Business News Korea". pulsenews.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-03-28.
  20. ^ 미래에셋증권, 상해에 투자자문업체 설립. 아시아경제 (in Korean). 2008-09-01. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  21. ^ 미래에셋증권, 상해 법인 설립. 이투데이 (in Korean). 2008-09-01. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  22. ^ Inc, Horizons Exchange Traded Funds (2012-10-25). "Horizons ETFs Enters Latin American Market in Joint Venture With Grupo InterBolsa". GlobeNewswire News Room. Retrieved 2019-04-29. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  23. ^ CNBC (2012-10-25). "Horizons ETFs Enters Latin American Market in Joint Venture With Grupo InterBolsa". CNBC. Retrieved 2019-04-29.[dead link‍]
  24. ^ "Global X partners with Daiwa on Japan ETF venture". ETF Strategy. 2019-09-10. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
  25. ^ Acosta, Francis Nikolai (2019-11-11). "US specialist ETF firm eyes Asia". Fund Selector Asia. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
  26. ^ "Fila Korea buys Titleist golf company for $1.2 billion". Reuters. 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  27. ^ "Fila Korea and Mirae Asset buy Titleist and Footjoy brands". FinanceAsia. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  28. ^ "Fila Korea and Mirae Asset buy Titleist and Footjoy brands". Leisure Link Golf's Blog. 2011-05-24. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  29. ^ Cummins, Carolyn (2013-08-21). "Four Seasons sold for $340 million". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  30. ^ Object, object (2013-08-28). "Sydney's Four Seasons Hotel sold in record-breaking deal". The Urban Developer. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  31. ^ "Value of Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney owned by Mirae Asset jumps 56% - Pulse by Maeil Business News Korea". pulsenews.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  32. ^ "Somerset Partners parts with 1801 K St. NW in first downtown investment sale of 2015". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  33. ^ "Korean firm buys Hawaii's Fairmont Orchid hotel for $200.3M". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  34. ^ "Korean Company, Mirae Asset Global Investments, Buys Fairmont Orchid Hawaii for $220 Million". Hotel Online. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  35. ^ "Fairmont San Francisco Hotel Interests Sold To Mirae Asset Global Investments For $450 Million". www.businesswire.com. 2015-11-24. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  36. ^ "Amazon building sells for nearly $250 million to Asian firm". The Seattle Times. 2016-07-11. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  37. ^ Cannon, Christina (22 July 2016). "Mirae Asset Global Investments Acquires Amazon Headquarters Building in Seattle for $246.8M – REBusinessOnline". Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  38. ^ "Blackstone Said to Have $200 Million Profit in Hawaii Deal". Bloomberg.com. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  39. ^ Mirae Asset's Park Hyeon-joo donates dividends for 13th consecutive year
  40. ^ 미래에셋 박현주 회장 '청년희망펀드'에 20억 기부
  41. ^ Mirae Asset Chair to donate Mirae Asset Consulting stocks
  42. ^ Mirae Asset Park Hyeon Joo Foundation
  43. ^ Mirae Asset Hope Foundation
  44. ^ "Mirae Asset Foundation Information - Mirae Asset Foundation Company Profile, Mirae Asset Foundation News on The Economic Times". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
  45. ^ "MIRAE ASSET FOUNDATION - Company, directors and contact details | Zauba Corp". www.zaubacorp.com. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
  46. ^ Donovan, G. A.; Chen, Michael Shih-ta; Khaire, Mukti (2010-03-29). "Mirae Asset: Korea's Mutual Fund Pioneer". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  47. ^ Salmon, Andrew (2011-01-07). "Forged In Crisis". Forbes. Retrieved 2019-03-28.
  48. ^ "Harvard Business School to Study Mirae Asset Group". The Korea Times. 2009-12-09. Retrieved 2019-03-28.
  49. ^ "Mirae Asset: A Disruptive Innovator in the Korean Financial Industry". thecasecentre.org. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  50. ^ Horie, Sadayuki (12 October 2010). "Long-term investments requires trust - Interview with Hyeon Joo Park (Chairman, Mirae Asset Financial Group) -". Nomura Research Institute. 89: 7. Archived from the original on 4 October 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2019 – via NRI.
  51. ^ "For Asset Manager, a Future Beyond Korea". The Wall Street Journal. 2007-10-01. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  52. ^ 박현주 미래에셋 회장의 증권인생 24년. shindonga.donga.com (in Korean). 2004-11-08. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  53. ^ [원고지 100장 분량 한경 단독 인터뷰] 박현주 미래에셋금융그룹 회장 일문일답. The Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). 2015-12-24. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
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