November 24, 2024

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Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo visits LG Electronics' exhibition booth during last year's CES in Las Vegas, Jan. 5, 2023. (Hana Financial Group)

The leaders of Hana Financial Group and Shinhan Financial Group are headed to the CES 2024, the world's largest consumer technology event slated to open in Las Vegas on Tuesday.

Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo is taking part in the tech event for his second consecutive year.

This year, the Hana chief is reportedly taking with him a team of employees in the artificial intelligence sector, in line with the theme of this year's CES, which seeks to highlight the possibilities of AI technology.

"Through experiencing global digital trends at the CES, we hope to gain insights into how to take on the company's future in this 'big blur' era in conventional industries," an official from the company said.

During his stay in the US, Ham also plans to visit Amazon's headquarters in Seattle, possibly in search of new opportunities for cooperation with the American e-commerce and tech giant.

Hana Finance has been making a push to strengthen its digital capabilities. In announcing organizational shifts and visions for the new year in December, the group announced it is reorganizing the "data department" under its digital arm to become the "AI data department," while its banking subsidiary Hana Bank is establishing an AI finance team.

Shinhan Bank CEO Jung Sang-hyuk is also participating in the CES trade show this year.

According to an official from the bank, Jung was scheduled to fly out Monday, together with several working-level officials.

Jung is expected to visit the company's independent booth, the only one operated by a local finance firm at this year's CES. Shinhan Bank launched its first booth in 2023 as the first Korean commercial lender to open an independent booth at the show.

Shinhan Bank will introduce its "Home Bank" service, which allows customers to use banking services via their TVs, as well as several other financial services and products, including an AI-powered bank clerk, digital desks and smart kiosks.

Shinhan Bank, the country's No. 2 commercial lender, has also been bolstering its digital business and recently launched an AI research center under its digital solution department.

The nation's top financial firm KB Financial Group is also sending to the CES a handful of working-level experts from its digital and AI-related teams.

By Choi Ji-won (jwc@heraldcorp.com)

Under the slogan "All On," this year's AI-focused CES will run for five days from Tuesday at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and at several other venues spread across the city.