This article appeared in "Signal," the capital markets compass, at 10:07 a.m. on August 3, 2026.
Hancom (030520), which has been accelerating its transformation toward an artificial intelligence (AI)-centered business, is introducing its first-ever corporate value enhancement (value-up) program. The company is expected to raise its total shareholder return ratio to the mid-to-high 30% range over the next three years, while disclosing detailed AI-related plans as it makes a full-fledged push to boost corporate value.
According to the investment banking (IB) industry on the 3rd, Hancom plans to hold a board meeting as early as early this month to approve a three-year value-up program containing these details. The company is understood to plan to brief the market on the relevant details after the board's approval. In addition, Hancom recently began the process of selecting a major accounting firm as its adviser in order to announce a more detailed value-up program to the market within this year.
The core of this value-up plan is a dramatic expansion of shareholder returns. Hancom is expected to present the market with specific shareholder return measures, including not only dividend expansion but also share buybacks and cancellations.
Hancom's annual total dividends stood at around 9 billion won for three consecutive years recently. Its total shareholder return ratio relative to net profit is around 27%. Through the introduction of this value-up program, Hancom aims to sharply raise this ratio to the mid-to-high 30% range. This exceeds the average total shareholder return ratio of 32% for domestic listed companies, including those on the KOSPI and KOSDAQ. Given that FnGuide estimates Hancom's net profit for this year at 42.8 billion won, expectations are emerging that the company will carry out shareholder returns of up to 15 billion won next year.
In particular, this value-up plan includes not only shareholder return measures but also a mid-to-long-term growth roadmap. The plan envisions redefining Hancom's identity as an AI-leading company that connects overall corporate work, moving away from its existing focus on office programs. To transform into an AI company, Hancom changed its name last month from Hangul and Computer to Hancom.
Indeed, Hancom is changing its makeup by posting solid results in its AI business division. The company recorded revenue of 98.6 billion won on a separate basis in the first half of this year, achieving its highest-ever half-year performance. Analysts say revenue from AI solutions—combining document creation, data extraction, and knowledge search—drove the earnings growth, surpassing its existing software revenue. Hancom has set this year's revenue target at 210 billion won, and expects to earn about 20% of that from AI-related businesses.
Currently, Hancom is rapidly expanding its market presence, delivering AI products to roughly 200,000 institutions, including government ministries, provincial and municipal education offices nationwide, and general companies. An official at an accounting firm analyzed, "If Hancom raises its shareholder return ratio to the mid-to-high 30% range, it could be re-evaluated as a clearly shareholder-friendly company within the KOSDAQ market."
