Hana welcomes university student ambassadors in 18th Smart campaign

Hana Financial Group's Smart ambassador campaign kicked off, giving university students a chance to experience corporate activities.

Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo, center, poses for a photo with university student ambassadors for the Smart program during the program's kick-off ceremony held in central Seoul on Tuesday. [HANA FINANCIAL GROUP]

Hana Financial Group's university student brand ambassador program kicked off with 50 new members selected for this year, the firm said Thursday.

The Smart ambassador campaign, now in its 18th edition, began in 2012 as the first of its kind in Korea's financial industry. A total of 963 students have taken part in the program so far.

This year's team consists of 50 members who beat out the competition at a rate of 13 to one. The selected members will participate in various activities for three months through August, including attending meetings with chief executives of major Hana subsidiaries, creating video content for the firm’s YouTube channel, planning marketing campaigns in collaboration with Hana’s sports teams and proposing new business ideas.

“We expect the ambassadors to participate in various activities that are hard to find in schools and provide new and unique ways for the younger generation with promotional campaigns,” said Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo.

“Such experiences will lay a precious foundation when you take your first step into the real world [after graduation],” said the chairman.

Hana Financial Group will provide the student ambassadors with funding for campaigns and an opportunity to visit Hana’s overseas operations, where they will take part in volunteer programs.

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]