[Edaily Marketin LEE GEON-EOM Reporter Kim Yeon-seo] It has been confirmed that Korea Ratings (Han Shin Pyeong) is hosting a seminar for a select group of asset management firms, combining a tour of the Pompidou Center inside the 63 Building with a Q&A session led by the assigned analyst. In accordance with prior requests from participating institutions, the assigned analyst personally provides one-on-one, customized answers. Concerns have been raised within the credit rating industry that, given the nature of this private event—which is conducted exclusively for asset management firms that responded to a separate invitation—it may provide an opportunity to gain access to non-public information or insights into future rating directions.

According to a comprehensive report by Edaily on the 20th, Han Shin Rating has recently been running a program called “Insight Sessions” for institutional investors, such as asset management firms.

Unlike existing public seminars or briefings that cover general topics for a large number of institutions, this program is designed to facilitate in-depth Q&A sessions tailored to the specific interests of each asset management firm. Han Shin Rating is the first credit rating agency to hold private briefings by inviting individual institutional investors.

The sessions are held in Hana Credit Rating’s meeting room at the 63 Building in Yeouido. Attending institutions submit their preferred sectors, companies, corporate groups, and market issues in advance, and analysts specializing in those areas personally answer their questions. The sessions are divided into morning and afternoon sessions, and meals and cultural activities are provided. Attendees of the morning session will be offered lunch and, for those interested, a tour of the Hanwha Pompidou Center; the afternoon session will be followed by a visit to an art museum. Word is that the Insight Sessions are generating significant interest among asset management firms, with all slots booked solid through the end of August.

Some in the market have raised concerns that, given the event’s closed-door, select-participant format, sensitive information—such as rating actions not yet officially announced or future evaluation directions—could be exchanged. This has led to concerns that the event could potentially violate the Capital Markets Act’s standards for managing undisclosed material information and internal controls.

A financial investment industry official expressed concern about the risks inherent in the closed-door event structure, stating, “While it may be beneficial for participating asset management firms to gain insight into future directions, I question why the credit rating agency feels the need to organize such a gathering.”

In fact, it is understood that Korea Ratings Corporation(034950)and NICEHoldings also considered holding close-contact events similar to those organized by Korea Ratings, but scrapped the plans entirely due to these concerns. Caution over the possibility of facing regulatory sanctions—such as unscheduled inspections by the Financial Supervisory Service—is cited as the reason why Korea Ratings and NICEHoldings drew a clear line early on and are taking a wait-and-see approach.

An official from a credit rating agency explained, “This is an unusual sales approach that has never been attempted in the credit rating industry,” adding, “The closer the ties with market participants become, the more difficult it may be to manage risks, such as controversies over information asymmetry.”

Market observers point to the results of the Korea Financial Investment Association’s (KOFIA) credit rating agency competency evaluation for the first half of the year as the reason HanKRA decided to hold this event. The interpretation is that HanKRA, having received a poor evaluation at that time, took this bold step to make up for it.

According to the “2026 Credit Rating Agency Capability Assessment Results” released by the Korea Financial Investment Association (KOFIA) last June, Han Shin Rating scored only 3.76 in the credit rating accuracy category—based on a qualitative assessment conducted by domestic experts—placing it last behind Han Ki Rating (3.80) and Na Shin Rating (3.89).

In response, an official from Han Shin Rating explained, “We simply moved the venue for the briefings—which we previously conducted by visiting each asset management firm directly—to the 63 Building and combined them with cultural events,” adding, “While there may be a lot of discussion depending on the preferences of analysts and portfolio managers, there is no issue.”