WisdomTree Goes Full K-Pop: ETF Giant Dives Into Korea’s Crypto Jungle

Another day, another trad-fi firm chasing Asia’s crypto liquidity firehose. WisdomTree just inked a Korean partnership—because nothing says ’global expansion’ like navigating a market where regulators flip-flop harder than a fried squid at a street market.

The move reeks of desperation from legacy finance. While Seoul’s retail traders pile into altcoins like it’s 2021, Wall Street’s ETF dinosaurs keep playing catch-up. Pro tip: maybe fix your 0.95% management fees before ’collaborating’ with local players who actually understand DeFi.

One bullish takeaway? At least they didn’t partner with Terra 2.0.

WisdomTree, a global financial innovator, announced it has expanded its global footprint through a strategic collaboration with Korea Investment Management Co., Ltd. (KIM) in connection with the launch of a suite of innovative exchange-traded funds (ETFs) by KIM marketed under the ACE label for the Korean market. “ACE” is the ETF branding used by Korea Investment Management for its locally listed ETFs. The ETFs are benchmarked to indexes incorporating WisdomTree’s proprietary approach to U.S. quality dividend growth capture through its U.S. quality dividend growth methodology, including the WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Index. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in WisdomTree’s mission to bring intelligent, research-driven investment solutions to new markets, reinforcing its leadership in global asset management.

To spearhead this initiative, WisdomTree has appointed Junghee Han, formerly of Korea Investment & Securities (KIS) and Korea Investment Corporation (KIC), to lead the firm’s expansion into the Korean market. With DEEP expertise in institutional asset management and a strong network across the region, Han is poised to drive impactful engagement with Korea’s top investors and institutions.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Korea Investment Management and support the expansion of WisdomTree’s index-based strategies into new markets and an even broader global audience,” said Jarrett Lilien, President of WisdomTree.

Han will report to Joseph Grogan, Head of Distribution, Americas, and play a key role in strengthening WisdomTree’s institutional relationships in the region.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Junghee for many years. His in-depth knowledge of institutional investors, particularly in the Korean market, and his proven ability to foster long-term relationships make him a tremendous asset to our team,” said Grogan. “I’m looking forward to working with him as WisdomTree accelerates our growth in Asia.”

Han is a seasoned investment executive with over 20 years of experience in global finance, specializing in private credit, hedge funds, and alternative investments. He most recently served as CEO of SF Credit Partners LLC, managing underwriting and direct lending efforts.

This collaboration underscores WisdomTree’s commitment to deliver exceptional investment strategies to an increasingly interconnected global investor base. By supporting KIM’s launch of these new products, WisdomTree is helping to expand access to its innovative dividend-growth strategies in Asia and for investors worldwide. As part of this initiative, the following funds are being launched by KIM specifically for the Korean market:

• KIM ACE US Dividend Quality ETF
• KIM ACE US Dividend Quality 50/50 Blended ETF
• KIM ACE US Dividend Quality Plus Covered Call Active ETF

Source: WisdomTree