Shinhan Financial Group Chairman "Digital bonds will bring innovative changes to the financial industry"

Attendance at the Korea-Japan Financial Cooperation Seminar

"Will lend support to building the relevant market"

Also emphasized finance for green transition

Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Jin Ok-dong (left) expressed his determination to lend support to the establishment of a digital bond market.

At the 'Korea-Japan Financial Cooperation Seminar' held on the 8th at the Korea Exchange in Yeouido, Seoul, Chairman Jin said, "Digital bonds based on blockchain technology will enhance the transparency and efficiency of financial markets while bringing innovative changes across the financial industry," and emphasized, "We will not only serve as a bridge for Korea-Japan cooperation but also lend support to building the digital bond market."

Yutaka Ito, Commissioner of Japan's Financial Services Agency (right), who attended the event, also said, "We will closely cooperate with Korea to share experiences in virtual asset regulations and the establishment of the digital bond market, and actively support linking these to sound innovation."

The seminar, hosted by Yonsei University's Graduate School of Environmental Finance and sponsored by Shinhan Financial Group, took place over two days on the 4th and 8th. It was prepared with the aim of seeking cooperation measures in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the digital field to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan. Representatives from Shinhan Financial Group, the Japan Financial Services Agency, the Asian Capital Markets Association, the Asian Development Bank, and domestic and foreign universities and research institutes attended.

On the first day of the seminar, the 4th, opinions were exchanged on the role of transition finance and the emissions trading scheme. Participants discussed ways to create a sustainable society by sharing low-carbon transition strategies and the current status of management system operations. In May, Shinhan Financial Group became the first domestic financial company to create group transition finance guidelines and developed the 'Green Index' system to reduce internal carbon emissions. Transition finance refers to a financial technique that injects funds into industries that need to transition to environmentally friendly practices and shifts financial institutions' asset portfolios to a low-carbon structure.

Reporter Jinseong Kim jskim1028@hankyung.com