EY Han Young launches Center for Board Matters to strengthen corporate governance

Global accounting and consulting firm EY Han Young announced Monday the launch of a dedicated unit — the EY Han Young Center for Board Matters — to help strengthen the capabilities of boards of directors and audit committees at Korean companies.

The center will deliver the latest governance insights through research, education, seminars, networking, advisory services and digital content. Its goal is to help boards and audit committees at domestic companies stay ahead of a shifting regulatory environment and emerging business risks, enabling them to carry out their oversight functions more effectively.

Corporate governance has been changing rapidly, broadening the oversight agenda for boards and audit committees. Where the focus once centered on financial reporting, internal controls and external auditor supervision, key issues now include AI, cybersecurity, environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters, data governance and enterprise risk management (ERM).

Since the introduction of the revised External Audit Act, audit committees have taken on expanded responsibilities, driving greater demand for more professional and substantive oversight frameworks.

The center has built an integrated governance support framework that goes beyond standalone education or advisory services, linking research, practice-oriented training, expert networking and digital content into a cohesive offering. In addition to providing research and insights on the latest governance issues, it will deliver education programs for boards and audit committees, expert seminars and networking programs, and content services through a digital platform.

The center's core digital platform, BoardWise by EY Han Young, is an education platform designed for boards of directors and audit committees. It brings together training content, policy and regulatory updates, and specialist publications in one place. Members can access a range of courses spanning onboarding programs for new committee members through to continuing education. The platform also allows users to browse materials and systematically track their training history and completion records.

The center plans to offer regular seminars and research publications covering the major governance issues facing boards and audit committees — including the reliability of financial reporting and internal controls, oversight of emerging technologies such as AI and cybersecurity, ESG and sustainability, and enterprise risk management. Drawing on EY Han Young's global network and industry expertise, it will share the latest domestic and international governance trends and practical insights. The firm also plans to expand services including annual audit committee advisory, audit committee diagnostics and corporate governance report advisory.

Lee Kwang-yeol, EY Han Young's audit division head, said good governance achieves real effectiveness only when expertise, independence and engagement work in balance. "Through the EY Han Young Center for Board Matters, we will support boards and audit committees in driving sustainable growth and value creation for their companies while building governance capabilities that meet global standards," he said.

Park Jeong-ik, head of the center and head of the audit division's market unit, said continuous learning and access to up-to-date information are becoming increasingly important for today's boards and audit committees. "The EY Han Young Center for Board Matters will support effective decision-making and oversight by boards and audit committees through research-based insights, practice-oriented education, and expert networking and communication," he said.

Meanwhile, EY Han Young posted total sales of 798.4 billion won ($597 million) and operating profit of 18.1 billion won for fiscal year 2025 (July 2025–June 2026), up 4.4 percent and 30.1 percent, respectively, from the previous year.