Ham Young-joo, seventh from left, chairman of Hana Financial Group, poses with winning artists of the 2026 Hana Artverse at an awards ceremony at Hana Bank's headquarters in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Hana Financial Group
Hana Financial Group honored artists with developmental disabilities at its annual Hana Artverse awards as part of efforts to support their social participation and financial independence, the company said Sunday.
The awards ceremony took place Friday at Hana Bank's headquarters in Seoul.
Launched in 2022 as an inclusive arts competition, Hana Artverse is part of the group’s social contribution initiatives aimed at improving awareness of disabilities and promoting a more inclusive culture.
This year’s edition drew a record 1,255 participants, with 30 winners ultimately recognized.
Among them is Park Chan-ho, who took the grand prize in the adult category. Drawing on his musical background, his painting translates sound into a visual motion. Layers of repeated lines, symbols and instrument-like forms rhythmically hum across the canvas.
In the youth division, top honors went to Choi Yu-jin, who reimagined a red horse — an emblem of 2026 — with a bold, pop-art sensibility.
The winning pieces will remain on display at the bank's headquarters through April 24, before moving to H.art1, the group’s cultural complex, from May 4-15. The top award-winning works will also be showcased at Art Busan, one of Korea’s leading art fairs based in the southeastern port city, in May.
The group awarded a total of 10.2 million won ($7,000) in prize money for this year’s competition, while three adult-category winners will be offered internships at Spring Shine, which supports the professional development of artists with disabilities.
Hana Financial has also partnered with brands, such as Coffee Bean Korea, Monami, Puma and 119REO, to create merchandise inspired by the winning pieces, ranging from tote bags and T-shirts to card wallets and pouches.
Source: Korea Times News
