Second Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo Dong-hoon (second from left), President Lee Hee-beom of the PyeongChang organizing committee (third from left), KEB Hana Bank President Ham Young-joo (fourth from left) and other participants hope for the successful Olympic Games next year, as the organizing committee for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games signs an agreement with KEB Hana Bank for it to serve as the main banking partner for the Games, at the bank’s offices in Seoul on April 18.
By Kang Gahui, Kim Ji Hoe and Sohn JiAe
Photos = Jeon Han
April 18, 2017 | Seoul
KEB Hana Bank has been chosen as the official banking partner for next year’s PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
On April 18, the bank signed an agreement at its offices in Seoul with the PyeongChang organizing committee to serve as the Olympic Games’ official commercial bank sponsor. During the signing ceremony, the bank also made a donation to promising ski jumpers.
As the main banking partner, the bank will handle funds needed to run the Winter Olympic Games, as well as ticket sales. It will set up branches and ATMs across the Olympic venues to serve athletes, officials and visitors with their banking needs.
“As a global financial institution, KEB Hana Bank has been part of historic moments in Korean sports,” said Second Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo Dong-hoon. “It has served as the equivalent of the Medici family across the Korean sporting world as it funded the national soccer team since 1998, and, as a result, contributed to the team reaching the semifinals at the 2002 FIFA World Cup,” Yoo said.
“The bank’s involvement in these upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games not only raises awareness of the role it has played over the years, but also serves as a significant stepping stone in the development of the nation’s winter sports and in the expansion of its popularity, for sure.”
President Lee Hee-beom (left) of the PyeongChang organizing committee and KEB Hana Bank President Ham Young-joo pose for a commemorative photo on April 18 after the signing of an agreement between the two sides by which the bank will serve as the official bank sponsor for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
“It’s such an honor to be part of the Olympic Games, the world’s most important global winter sporting event, as an official bank sponsor,” said KEB Hana Bank President Ham Young-joo. “Our financial organization will spare no expense in serving our customers and clients from around the world with their differentiated financial needs,” he said.
“Before it merged with Hana Bank, the Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) was involved with the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games as a banking partner,” said President Lee Hee-beom of the PyeongChang organizing committee. “As in the official Olympic slogan, ‘Connected. Passion,’ the banks are all connected as part of the nation’s upcoming Winter Olympic Games in 2018, which is even more meaningful,” he said.
President Lee Hee-beom (left) of the PyeongChang Olympic Games organizing committee and speed skater Kim Bo-reum (center) gives plush toys of Soohorang and Bandabi, the official mascots for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, to KEB Hana Bank President Ham Young-joo, in Seoul on April 18.
kgh89@korea.kr
