Hope Bancorp, the holding company of Bank of Hope, has announced that Scott Yoon-Suk Whang will retire from the Boards of Directors of both the Company and the Bank in connection with the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Whang has elected not to stand for re-election, bringing to a close a long and influential chapter in the organization’s leadership.
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Kevin S. Kim, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Hope Bancorp, expressed appreciation for Whang’s lasting impact on the institution. He noted that Whang played a pivotal role in the creation of Hope Bancorp through the historic merger of equals between Nara Bancorp, Inc. and Center Financial Corporation. Kim added that Whang’s leadership and insight over the years were instrumental in guiding Bank of Hope’s evolution from a community-focused institution into the regional bank it is today.
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Reflecting on his tenure, Whang described his service on the boards as both a privilege and an honor. He shared that working alongside fellow board members was one of the highlights of his career and expressed his confidence in Hope Bancorp’s continued success in the years ahead.
Since joining the Board in 2007, Whang has served in several key leadership roles. He held the position of Chairman of the Board from 2017 to 2019 and later served as Lead Independent Director from 2019 through 2024. Throughout his tenure, he was widely regarded as a strong advocate for effective board leadership, sound governance practices, and long-term institutional growth.
Beyond his contributions to Hope Bancorp, Whang is a seasoned entrepreneur with a distinguished career in the publishing and consumer products industry. He founded Orange Circle Studios, a company known for its premium gift products and calendar publishing services, and also established Codra Enterprises and Avalanche Publishing, Inc. His achievements have earned him numerous accolades, including the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Korean American Chamber of Commerce, recognizing both his business success and his role as an exemplary minority entrepreneur.
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Following Whang’s retirement, Hope Bancorp will reduce the size of its Board to nine directors, effective with the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Company has filed a Form 8-K disclosing his retirement, along with updates to its bylaws and certain governance documents as part of its regular governance review process.
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