AIF APAC Holds 5th Annual Investors’ Meeting with Events in Seoul and Tokyo

AIF APAC, the Asia-Pacific division of AIF Global (www.aifglobal.org), an independent economic think tank focusing on institutional investment policy, recently held its 5th Annual Investors’ Meeting in Seoul and its Japanese Investors’ Symposium in Tokyo amidst a backdrop of global trade tensions.

Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), Chief Investment Officers (CIOs), and Senior Investment Officers from organizations including the National Pension Service of Korea (NPS), Korea Investment Corporation (KIC), Korea Post Insurance, Texas Municipal Retirement System, and Maryland State Retirement Agency, as well as many of the APAC region’s top government officials and preeminent finance academics, gathered in Seoul to discuss key issues facing investors in the Asia-Pacific region.

Following the Seoul meeting, the Board of Governors of the Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), CIOs of Japan Investment Corporation (JIC) and Pension fund of Japanese Corporations, heads of real estate and private equity investment at Japan Post Bank, as well as many other Japanese government officials and academics, participated in the AIF APAC Japanese Investors’ Symposium. This annual symposium in Tokyo focuses on the unique aspects of the Japanese pension system and economy.

Yonsei University Professor of Finance and Head of AIF APAC, Sam Y. Chung, who organized and led the meetings, said, “Amid a rapidly changing macroeconomic and geopolitical environment, alpha generation and risk management are at the top of APAC institutional asset owners' minds. This year’s AIF APAC Investors’ Meetings offered opportunities for asset owners to learn from each other by sharing best ideas, best practices, and best information about portfolio construction and performance across geographies with a special focus on private market investments.”

Professor Chung continued, “The theme of these events was ‘2025: New Global Leadership and Changes in the Investment Environment.’ The discussions provided an opportunity to understand the paradigm shifts in the investment market due to policy changes and inflation under Trump 2.0, as well as changing demographics and technological innovation. Participants actively discussed how these issues impact portfolio performance and inform risk management.”

The Seoul meeting featured four special sections including: (1) “A New Era for the Global Economy and Geopolitical Landscape”, presented by Torsten Slok, the Chief Economist of Apollo; (2) “Korea NPS Reform”, discussed by NPS’ executive policy makers; (3) “Challenges of Retirement Saving Systems in the APAC Region” moderated by Moodys’ Vice Chairman, Richard Cantor; and (4) “The Rapid Growth of Private Wealth and its Impact on Institutional Investors,” which included high net worth investors from Korea.

Each day featured a keynote fireside chat with veteran investors including Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) CIO, Yup Kim and former U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury and CEO, Muzinich & Co., Justin Muzinich.

AIF is also pleased to announce the launch of the AIF APAC Advisory Boards, which will assist with content development and engaging peer investors to further AIF’s mission of promoting the exchange of best ideas, best practices and best information among institutional asset owners globally to help them achieve their investment objectives. AIF APAC’s founding Advisory Board members include:

• Korea Investment Corporation (KIC) CIO, Hoon Lee
• Korea Public Officials Benefit Association (POBA) CIO, Jang Huh
• Korea Teachers Pension CIO, Bumsik Jeon
• Japan Investment Corporation (JIC) CIO, Toshiyuki Kumura
• Japan Post Bank Head of Private Equity Investment, Hideya Sadanaga

The board will work alongside AIF APAC’s faculty members, which include 400 Capital Management, Apollo Capital Management, CBRE, Kennedy Lewis Investment Management, Manna Tree, and Starwood. AIF APAC plans to add other faculty members with specialized expertise across private markets asset classes including private equity, private credit, real estate, infrastructure and diversifying and opportunistic strategies.

AIF’s Founder and CEO Brant Maller said: “We could not have been more pleased with the success of AIF APAC’s events under Professor Chung’s leadership. The APAC region is as dynamic and growing as any in the world. Adding a regional presence is the natural next step in AIF’s goal of expanding to all of the world’s major institutional money centers. Professor Chung’s years of experience on investment advisory boards for NPS and Korea Post, his status as a respected finance academic, and his physical presence in Southeast Asia make him an ideal choice to lead AIF’s efforts in the APAC region.”

Professor Chung added: “It is my great honor to lead AIF APAC and, as one team with AIF Global, we will give our best effort to educate and inform the Asia-Pacific asset owners community. I am confident that the insights and knowledge shared through AIF APAC will be invaluable to anyone navigating the complex investment landscape facing asset owners in the APAC region.”

About AIF Global and the AIF Institute

AIF Global is an independent economic think tank with the mission of fostering the exchange of best ideas, practices, and information among institutional asset owners globally to help them achieve their investment objectives. Since its inception, the AIF Institute has been a leader in providing customized education to institutional investors globally. https://aifglobal.org

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