As Abu Dhabi Finance Week is underway, we spoke with Jong-Ho (James) Kim, CEO of Hanwha Asset Management—one of Asia-Pacific’s leading international asset managers and part of Hanwha Finance, South Korea’s seventh-largest conglomerate and a Fortune Global 500 company.
Hanwha Asset Management’s participation at ADFW signals a new phase beyond its current bases in Seoul, San Francisco, and Singapore.
Why Abu Dhabi?
By establishing a local corporation in the capital, Hanwha Asset Management aims to leverage Abu Dhabi’s strategic location and financial networks to expand partnerships with institutional investors across the GCC.
A Natural Synergy
The firm’s expertise in Asia-Pacific aligns closely with ADFW’s theme: ‘Engineering the Capital Network,’ which reflects Abu Dhabi’s strategy to broaden its capital reach – especially toward high-growth markets in South Korea.
ETF Advantage, Home And Abroad
ETFs are Hanwha Asset Management’s competitive edge.
Domestically, the firm has capitalised on Korea’s defence and dividend growth sectors. Its PLUS K-Defence and PLUS High Dividend ETFs both surpassed KRW 1 trillion (USD 750mn) this year.
ETF Growth in MENA and APAC
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) are driving global investment trends, with adoption accelerating across both APAC and MENA markets. In Korea, the firm’s PLUS K-Defence and PLUS High Dividend ETFs each surpassed KRW 1 trillion (USD 750 million) in 2025, showcasing strong domestic traction.
In MENA, ETFs remain an emerging asset class with vast growth potential, fuelled by sovereign wealth funds, high-net-worth individuals, and an increasing appetite for diversified, transparent, and liquid investment vehicles.
MENA Expansion
Hanwha Asset Management is targeting the GCC’s sovereign wealth-driven growth at ADFW: making the firm one of the only Korean asset management firms actively building a footprint in the Gulf.
Hanwha is the 1st Korean Asset Management Company in Abu Dhabi.
In fact, the firm already opened a local corporation in Abu Dhabi and the UAE marks the beginning of its venture into the GCC market.
Building on a Portfolio of Success Stateside
Hanwha Asset Management manages about USD17 Billion in alternative investments and has built a solid track record in overseas infrastructure funds since 2017.
It’s U.S. subsidiary also operates a locally launched alternative investment fund, strengthening Hanwha Asset Management’s presence in the North American market.
The GCC market offers exposure to infrastructure-driven growth and sovereign wealth fund activity, complementing Hanwha’s established portfolios in Korea, the U.S., and Singapore.
By tapping into MENA’s high-growth markets, the firm mitigates reliance on Asia-Pacific markets while seizing early-mover advantages in a region with rising investment sophistication.
ADFW and Hanwha Asset Management
Mr Jong-Ho (James) Kim said that ADFW represents more than participation in an industry event. Instead, it is an opportunity to “formalise our strategic commitment” to a partnership with the Middle Eastern market as a leading Asian asset manager, he said.
ADFW marks the starting point for putting this vision into action in the MENA market. The firm’s ambition to build closer networks with major institutional investors in the region, expand long term investment partnerships, and introduce a new model of financial cooperation between Asia and the MENA will be critical for Hanwha Finance at ADFW this week.
Whether this moment becomes the starting point for deeper Korea-GCC financial cooperation, particularly in ETFs, remains to be seen.
Yet with the platforms set and interest rising, the groundwork for a significant Korea-GCC capital partnership is firmly in place and ADFW is the optimal scene to set this in motion.
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