Early Life
Park Hyeon-joo was born in Gwangju, South Korea, on October 17, 1958. Growing up in rural South Korea, he was inspired by business leaders and the resilience of nature. After his father's death during high school, Park pursued self-education in leadership and entered the finance sector in 1979. He graduated from Korea University in 1983 with a degree in business administration.
Rise to Success
Park began his career at Dongyang Securities in 1986 and later became the youngest branch manager in the industry at Dongwon Securities at age 32. In 1997, he co-founded Mirae Asset Investment Advisory and Mirae Asset Global Investments, pioneering the first professional asset management company in Korea. He launched the country's first mutual fund, "Park Hyeon-joo No. 1," in 1998, which sold out quickly. He expanded the business by establishing Mirae Asset Securities and Mirae Asset Life Insurance.
Key Business Strategies
Park's success stems from his innovative approach to the financial market, emphasizing client-centric values and pioneering mutual funds. He focused on overseas expansion beginning in 2003 and pursued aggressive mergers and acquisitions, including SK Investment Trust Management, KDB Daewoo Securities, and specialized ETF management companies. In 2018, he transitioned to the role of Global Strategy Officer, focusing on global growth and institutionalized management. His leadership has led to Mirae Asset’s expansion into 18 regions worldwide.
Philanthropy
Park is committed to philanthropy, having founded the Mirae Asset Park Hyeon Joo Foundation in March 2000, donating 7.5 billion won of his own money. He pledged to donate all dividends from Mirae Asset Management to support youth. He is committed to giving back to the community. The Mirae Asset Park Hyeon Joo Foundation provides scholarships and support to young people. As of the end of 2024, the total cumulative social contributions have surpassed 106.9 billion won (approximately $78.5 million).
