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y’s partners Newsletter 2026 | Vol.1

  • 2 days ago
  • 5 min read

y’s partners Newsletter 2026 | Vol.1

Welcome to the K-Governance Journey:

A Thriving Future with y’s partners



To our respected partners,


The journey of y’s partners has officially begun.


As the global intergenerational transfer of wealth accelerates, family businesses and family offices are emerging as the core pillars of the global economy. However, South Korea faces unique and formidable challenges—including stark inheritance and gift taxes, rigid regulations, and a lingering social skepticism toward entrepreneurs—leading to a significant outflow of national wealth and elite talent. In an era where legal frameworks alone lack the agility to provide answers and precedents are scarce, there is an urgent need for "tailored solutions" that respect the unique history and stakeholder dynamics of every family and enterprise.


y’s partners was established to answer this call of the times.


For over 25 years, we have navigated complex issues with a solution-oriented lens to find the keys to problem-solving. Building on this experience, we aspire to be a steadfast supporter of "K-Governance," which is essential for the sustainable prosperity of Korean enterprises. We commit to listening to the voices of all stakeholders and fostering an ecosystem where more participants can thrive together.


The ‘y’ in our name reflects our desire to work “Wisely” and joyfully with our partners. We will constantly ask “Why?” while simultaneously challenging the status quo with “Why Not?”, embracing the process of learning something new every day as we seek solutions. We are not a team that stays confined to boardroom strategies; we are a team that hits the ground running to put wisdom into action.


South Korea achieved the "Miracle on the Han River" through industrial grit, and we recently showcased our cultural depth to the world through novelist Han Kang’s Nobel Prize in Literature. Now is the time for a harmony between the material and the spiritual. We wish to embark on this journey with you toward a "Third Miracle on the Han River"—redefining the true purpose and value of wealth to realize a truly "Thriving Future."


Yvonne Park Founder & CEO, y's partners

Executed through Multidimensional Capabilities


Leveraging over 25 years of deep-seated expertise in governance and communication, y’s partners secures the sustainable prosperity of family businesses and family offices. Given that the majority of Korean family businesses are publicly listed, owners and boards of directors must look beyond mere laws and regulations; they must navigate the zeitgeist and complex stakeholder dynamics to make high-stakes strategic decisions while protecting their reputation. y’s partners answers this challenge with irreplaceable execution that seamlessly integrates communication, legal, and financial perspectives into a cohesive strategy.

Our Global Advisors

Drawing upon our global network and specialized expertise, y’s partners bridges the generational values of enterprises, providing premier governance and leadership solutions that ensure enduring prosperity.



Professor Raffi Amit

  • He serves as a professor of management at the Wharton School and was named the world's No. 1 Family Enterprise scholar by 'Family Capital' in 2025.

  • He presents pioneering insights into the ownership structure and management of privately held family-run businesses, as well as best practices for family governance worldwide.





James Rhee

  • A globally recognized investor, educator, and founder of Red Helicopter®, an innovative management and leadership system

  • As a minority equity investor in y’s partners, he actively supports the mission of advising the next generation of leadership to family offices and entrepreneurial families worldwide.



Value Map of Prosperity


y's partners unveiled the results of the 'Thriving Korea Narrative Survey' at its founding ceremony. The survey, which was conducted in advance targeting approximately 200 opinion leaders from various fields including law, finance, media, academia, global corporations, and public and international organizations, received final responses from 122 prominent respondents. The survey was designed to have participants select the word that best represents 'Thriving Korea' from six candidate keywords in each of five areas: 'Direction and Attitude,' 'Awareness and Trust,' 'Power of Growth and Change,' 'Relationship with Society,' and 'Expansion and Connection.'

The findings were profound: respondents prioritized fundamental values over the 'numerical growth' traditionally associated with success.


Direction and Attitude — Foresight (32.8%, 1st place) The perception that a long-term perspective and the capacity for future readiness, rather than short-term results, are the starting point of prosperity was widely shared among experts across various fields. 'Resilience' followed at 19.7%.


Perception and Trust — Authenticity (33.6%, 1st place) The view that the strength of preserving Korea's unique identity and stories, rather than the uniform application of global standards, serves as the basis for trust was overwhelmingly evident. 'Credibility' ranked second at 23.8%.


The Power of Growth and Change — Innovation (30.3%, 1st place) The power of innovation to create new solutions and 'Agility' (25.4%) to flexibly respond to change have been selected as Thriving Korea's core growth engines.


Relationship with Society — Contribution (23.8%, 1st place) An attitude of sharing achievements with society and making meaningful contributions was cited as a social condition for prosperity. 'Responsibility' (21.3%) and 'Sustainability' (15.6%) were evenly distributed, and support for growth methods involving various stakeholders rather than short-term results was prominent.


Expansion and Connection — Collaboration (30.3%, 1st place) A collaborative approach to achieving goals with various stakeholders was selected as the core of Thriving Korea's global connection strategy, followed by 'Openness' (23.0%).


The collective wisdom of these 122 leaders converges into a single, powerful mandate:


"A Thriving Korea is built on foresight, preserves its unique authenticity, creates value through innovation, makes meaningful contributions to society, and connects with the world through global collaboration."


Having moved beyond the era of compressed growth, we stand at a critical juncture where we must redefine the harmony between material prosperity and spiritual fulfillment, as well as the true purpose and dignity of wealth. It holds profound significance that leaders across various sectors of Korean society have collectively defined this language of prosperity. y's partners will adopt these five keywords as the core cornerstone of our K-governance advisory services, delivering strategic consulting that aligns with the demands of the times.

 

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