Summary
Hanjin Group is a South Korean conglomerate with its core entity being Hanjin Corporation. The group includes Hanjin KAL, a holding company, and has key subsidiaries in various sectors such as aviation (Korean Air, Jin Air, and Korea Airport Service) and land transportation (Hanjin). Established in November 1945 with the founding of Hanjin Transportation, the group has been committed to contributing to South Korea’s prosperity through the logistics business for over 70 years.
The late Chairman Cho Choong-hoon, who founded Hanjin Transportation, named the company Hanjin, meaning “Advancement of the Korean people,” reflecting his dedication to contribute to the nation through business. Hanjin Group ranks 14th in the South Korean business conglomerate rankings as of 2023 and is headquartered in Seosomun-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul.
Hanjin Group’s expansion into the shipping industry began with the establishment of Daejin Shipping in February 1967. This was followed by the founding of Korea Airport Service in February 1968 and the acquisition of Korean Air Lines, now known as Korean Air, in 1969. Korean Air, the main subsidiary of Hanjin Group, has become a respected name in the global aviation industry. Other subsidiaries like Hanjin Transportation and Jin Air have also emerged as leading companies in the logistics sector.
Hanjin KAL, the holding company of Hanjin Group, was established on Aug. 1, 2013, through the separation of Korean Air. The formation of Hanjin KAL was aimed at enhancing shareholder value by improving corporate governance and fostering new growth by responsibly and autonomously managing each affiliate. Hanjin KAL supports the sustainability of the group’s core businesses, including air transportation, integrated logistics, hotels & leisure, and information services. Furthermore, Hanjin KAL is dedicated to securing future sustainability by identifying and developing new business ventures that can lead the group forward.
Timeline
▲ November 1945 = Hanjin Transportation was established.
▲ October 1947 = Hanjin Transportation obtained a license for a trucking business in Gyeonggi Province.
▲ November 1956 = Hanjin Transportation signed a military supplies transportation contract with the U.S. Army in Korea.
▲ January 1961 = Air Korea Co., Ltd. was established.
▲ August 1961 = Hanjin Travel Co., Ltd. was established.
▲ March 1966 = Hanjin Transportation signed a military supplies transportation contract with the U.S. Army in Vietnam.
▲ February 1968 = Korea Airport Service was established.
▲ September 1968 = Hanjin took over the Inha University Foundation.
▲ March 1969 = Hanjin took over public-owned Korean Airlines, renaming it Korean Air Co., Ltd.
▲ April 1972 = Korean Air opened a passenger route across the Pacific Ocean.
▲ September 1972 = Hanjin launched Inwang, South Korea’s first container vessel.
▲ May 1973 = Korean Air inaugurated its first B747 jumbo plane for the trans-Pacific route.
▲ September 1974 = Korean Air opened its first regular route to Europe (Seoul-Paris, freight).
▲ May 1977 = Hanjin Shipping Co., Ltd. was established.
▲ October 1978 = Hanjin Shipping launched routes to the Middle East.
▲ January 1979 = Hanjin took over Hankuk Aviation University.
▲ March 1979 = Korean Air began Seoul-New York passenger and freight routes.
▲ September 1982 = Korean Air manufactured South Korea’s first fighter (Unit 1).
▲ August 1988 = Korean Air was selected the official airline of the Seoul Olympics.
▲ March 1990 = Korean Air launched a route to Moscow, Russia.
▲ November 1994 = Korean Air created a business partnership with Delta Airlines.
▲ September 2000 = Korean Air launched Sky Team with Delta, Air France, and AeroMexico.
▲ May 2002 = Korean Air was selected the official airline for the World Cup Soccer Games.
▲ June 2004 = Korean Air initiated a tree planting campaign in Mongolia.
▲ April 2005 = Korean Air signed contracts to introduce B787 Dreamliner and Airbus A380.
▲ July 2005 = Korean Air became the world’s number one cargo carrier in international freight carried.
▲ January 2008 = Jin Air Co., Ltd. was established.
▲ March 2009 = Korean Air celebrated its 40th anniversary.
▲ June 2010 = Korean Air celebrated SkyTeam’s 10th Anniversary.
▲ June 2011 = Korean Air launched A380 service from Incheon to Narita.
▲ February 2013 = Korean Air announced the Wilshire Grand Hotel Project Plan.
▲ August 2013 = Hanjin Group established Hanjin KAL Holdings.
▲ February 2014 = Hanjin Shipping set up the CKYHE Alliance.
▲ December 2014 = Jin Air employed B777-200ER for long haul.
▲ March 2015 = Korean Air became an official Tier One Partner for the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympics.
▲ June 2015 = Korean Air signed a deal to purchase 100 next-generation aircraft.
▲ August 2015 = Korean Air introduced B747-8i.
▲ June 2016 = Korean Air and P&W opened the world’s largest engine test facility in Korea.
▲ February 2017 = Introduced the First B787-9 Dreamliner in Korea.
