The new office reflects the strong growth potential that Franklin Templeton sees in the Korean financial market.

Global investment manager Franklin Templeton, an external asset manager for the National Pension Service (NPS), has opened a contact office in Jeonju, South Korea. 

“The official opening of our Jeonju contact office reflects the strong growth potential that we see in the Korean financial market,” Tay Kim, president and CEO, Franklin Templeton Korea, said. Attendees included director of Jeonbuk Provincial Government Se-chang Cheon, Matthew Harrison (co-head of APAC, Franklin Templeton), Woon-cheon Chung (National Assembly Member), Seong-ju Kim (National Assembly member), Tae-hyun Kim (NPS chairman), Tariq Ahmad (co-head of APAC, Franklin Templeton).

The Jeonju contact office is responsible for supporting the NPS by performing a liaison function for NPS-related work, including market research and analysis.

NPS, which has been managing its assets through Franklin Templeton since 2001, invests in various asset classes including equities, fixed income, private equity, real estate and infrastructure through Franklin Templeton.

"We hope that more financial companies will join us in creating a vibrant financial ecosystem in Jeonbuk Innovation City,” Tae-hyun Kim, chairman and chief executive officer of NPS, said.

Franklin Templeton’s presence in Korea started in 1997 as the first foreign asset management company in Korea; it is dedicated to providing a wide range of investment solutions and services to local investors.

Franklin Templeton has more than 1,300 investment professionals in 30 countries managing a total of over $1.4 trillion in assets under management across asset classes such as equities, fixed income and alternatives including private equity, real estate and infrastructure.