[비즈한국] It has been confirmed that Samsung Gold Exchange, an affiliate of Hoban Group, has established a second manufacturing plant. Samsung Gold Exchange has recently established itself as a key affiliate of Hoban Group, driven by a sharp rise in performance. Bolstered by this, the company is demonstrating its commitment to business expansion through the second manufacturing plant. Kim Yun-hye, President of Hoban Property (35) and eldest daughter of Hoban Group Chairman Kim Sang-yeol (65), also took office as an internal director of Samsung Gold Exchange this March to oversee management directly.
Hoban Property, an affiliate of Hoban Group, acquired Samsung Gold Exchange in 2020 for 22.3 billion won. As of the end of last year, Hoban Property holds a 50.8% stake, while Hoban Construction holds 48.8%. Samsung Gold Exchange is a gold distribution and jewelry manufacturing and retail company. It has little relevance to Hoban Group's core business, construction. However, the performance of Samsung Gold Exchange cannot be ignored. Even before being acquired by Hoban Property, the company recorded 1.0339 trillion won in sales and 3.2 billion won in operating profit in 2019.
After being acquired by Hoban Property, Samsung Gold Exchange maintained similar performance levels for several years before experiencing a significant surge starting in 2024. In 2024, it achieved 1.7135 trillion won in sales and 5.2 billion won in operating profit, and in 2025, it reached a record-breaking performance of 3.6596 trillion won in sales and 55 billion won in operating profit. This is interpreted as being influenced by the recent rise in gold prices.
It has been confirmed that Samsung Gold Exchange opened its second manufacturing plant in Jangsa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, this April, fueled by its growth in performance. The company's existing manufacturing plant is located in Gwan-sudong, Jongno-gu, and its headquarters is on the 8th floor of the Danseong Gold Jewelry Center in Jongno-gu. The second plant is located just 150 meters away from the Danseong Gold Jewelry Center. The center was formerly a movie theater named 'Danseongsa' before being reborn as a specialized jewelry shopping mall in 2016.
However, the second manufacturing plant is not large in scale like those of major corporate manufacturing affiliates; it is a small-scale workshop commonly found in the Jongno 3-ga area. In fact, metal crafting does not require large-scale factory facilities. Nevertheless, the fact that Samsung Gold Exchange is operating a second plant reflects its willingness to expand its business.
A spokesperson for Samsung Gold Exchange explained, "The existing manufacturing plant handles gold products, while the second plant handles silver products," adding, "We built the second plant to expand our business."
The outlook for Samsung Gold Exchange remains positive as gold trading volume continues to rise. According to the Korea Exchange, the daily average gold trading volume this May was 391,844g. This is a 92.15% increase compared to the daily average of 203,926g in May of last year. It is also a 44.28% increase compared to the average volume of 271,586g in April of this year.
The recent downward trend in gold prices is a source of concern. Although gold prices rose to 269,810 won per gram in January of this year, they are currently hovering around the 200,000 won level. If gold prices fall, investment appeal decreases accordingly, which could lead to a decline in demand for gold.
Hoban Group is generating significant performance in non-construction fields, bolstered by the strides of its affiliates such as Hoban Property, Taihan Cable & Solution001440, and Samsung Gold Exchange. Samsung Gold Exchange is also making various moves, such as signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NH Nonghyup Bank this May to 'vitalize physical gold trust trading.' Earlier in March, President Kim Yun-hye, the eldest daughter of Chairman Kim Sang-yeol, took office as an internal director of the company. Business circles are focused on whether Samsung Gold Exchange will become the next cash cow for Hoban Group.