Kim Dong-won of Hanwha Life Insurance: “Building a Sustainable Financial Partnership with Abu Dhabi”

Kim Dong-won, CGO of Hanwha Life Insurance, delivered the opening remarks at the Global Market Summit of Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW) 2025 on the 8th (local time), emphasizing the significance of bilateral cooperation and the role of finance. The Global Market Summit, an official session of ADFW 2025, serves as a platform to analyze the structural changes in global capital markets from various perspectives and to propose future directions for capital networks.
Kim stated, “Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1980, Korea and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have steadily broadened the scope of their cooperation. As a financial institution, we will take the lead in ensuring that our ‘century-long partnership’ continues for generations to come.”
He continued, “Korea and the UAE share a DNA of turning crises into opportunities, embracing change, and pursuing long-term, trust-based relationships. The role of finance is crucial in building a sustainable financial partnership between our countries. Finance acts as a catalyst that transforms the will to cooperate into real opportunities and is the driving force behind industry and innovation.”
Kim also highlighted the importance of practical and sustainable cooperation with Abu Dhabi. He stated, “Based on Abu Dhabi’s advanced market infrastructure, we will work together to create a new financial ecosystem.” He predicted that future cooperation between the two countries will expand, particularly in finance, including joint investment in real assets, supply chain finance, enhancement of cross-border payment infrastructure, and the establishment of digital asset platforms.
He further expressed his hope that the journey Korea and Abu Dhabi embark on together will set a global benchmark for future finance, reaffirming Hanwha Financial Group’s commitment to working closely with the UAE as a central partner in the transition to next-generation finance.
Meanwhile, four Hanwha financial affiliates—Hanwha Life Insurance, Hanwha General Insurance, Hanwha Asset Management, and Hanwha Investment & Securities—participated as premier partners of ADFW 2025.
Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW), hosted by Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) under the patronage of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has established itself as the largest financial event in the Middle East. It brings together major global financial leaders to discuss key agendas and directions for cooperation in the future of finance, and is now in its fourth year.
This year’s ADFW, under the theme of 'Engineering the Capital Network,' focuses on redesigning the flow of global capital and exploring ways to establish a new financial operating system that integrates traditional and digital finance. Next-generation financial infrastructure topics, such as on-chain finance and the structuring of real asset-based digital assets, are also being discussed as core agendas.
imne@fnnews.com Hong Ye-ji Reporter