August 11, 2025 | 12:00am
Notes on the beat
MANILA, Philippines — Twenty years in the past, South Korean businessman Dae Sik Han first visited the Philippines to play golf. Right this moment his boldest shot is about to attain a hole-in-one on the inventory market.
When he first set foot within the Clark Freeport Zone in 2005, Han was not fairly impressed. There was a golf course and some inns, however nothing that stood out or screamed five-star high quality.
But one thing concerning the former navy base lingered as Han noticed its potential to develop into a main hub for each locals and foreigners looking for distinctive experiences.
“That’s how I made a decision to spend money on Clark,” he recalled in an interview with The STAR.
Simply three years after arriving in Clark, Han opened the doorways of Widus Lodge & On line casino, which was redeveloped and rebranded into Hann On line casino Resort – the biggest luxurious gaming and hospitality advanced outdoors Metro Manila.
Owned by Hann Holdings Inc. (HHI), the built-in on line casino resort homes over 1,100 slot machines, 240 gaming tables and 72 digital gaming tables.
“My power is I can see issues otherwise, and I can sense issues very, very quick. And I’m fairly good at making selections proper now for the longer term,” Han mentioned.
His largest transfer thus far is the choice to take his firm public.
Based mostly on its newest prospectus, HHI intends to supply 500 million frequent shares with an overallotment possibility of as much as 50 million secondary frequent shares at a most worth of P23.60 every.
With itemizing focused for late subsequent month, HHI may probably develop into the second firm to conduct an preliminary public providing (IPO) this yr after High Line Enterprise Growth Corp.
This transfer is anticipated to place HHI on the radar whereas offering a possibility to boost as much as P13 billion to bankroll Han’s daring growth plans in Pampanga.
Han is presently main the event of Hann Reserve, a 455.6-hectare luxurious mountain resort in New Clark Metropolis.
The multibillion-peso mission will function branded residences and a group of luxurious inns, alongside three championship golf programs.
“Itemizing is a method of funding my mission, and the opposite one is gaining credibility. After this IPO, after I discuss to massive corporations from Korea, they do their due diligence and background test. ‘Wow, I can discuss to this man,’ ” Han mentioned.
Capturing the overseas market
Han mentioned he needs to draw extra South Korean corporations to the Philippines, permitting each Filipinos and vacationers to immerse themselves within the wealthy Korean tradition.
“I plan to convey Korean tradition like Ok-pop, Ok-food, Ok-beauty and every thing as a result of I perceive Korean tradition higher than any Filipino,” he mentioned. “We have to discover a solution to promote expertise.”
Within the Philippine gaming scene, Han famous that Koreans have been presupposed to be one of many strongest markets. However over time, their enthusiasm has steadily waned.
With this in thoughts, Han goals to attract extra Korean guests, together with different foreigners, to energise the nation’s sluggish on line casino market.
“How am I going to convey worldwide markets? One of the vital vital issues after I run my enterprise is easy methods to differentiate myself from others. And I attempt to obtain this by way of golf,” he mentioned.
Han emphasised that he’s positioning golf as a “differentiator” for his enterprise in comparison with different built-in on line casino resorts within the Philippines.
No different built-in resorts presently provide each on line casino and golf, he famous.
“Let’s say 20 % of excessive rollers in Metro Manila are golfers. If I can penetrate this market, then think about I can get 20 % of regardless of the income in Metro Manila is,” the Hann Group chief mentioned.
Trying forward, the corporate plans to stage skilled golf tournaments in Pampanga to convey “excessive rollers” from completely different international locations, together with Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China.
“That may be a solution to convey extra foreigners as a result of this skilled event goes to be an enormous one. It’s a actually massive one, and I haven’t executed any advertising in Korea but,” Han mentioned.
Along with his IPO dream set in September and main golf tournaments teed up subsequent, Han is seeking to redefine the sport – each on the greens and the buying and selling flooring.
