Full-Blown Reputational Crisis

• Situation: This issue of this fund goes back over 20 years and was only finally resolved in 2025. 

• Initially seen as a hero for rescuing a failed local bank, the fund suffered unprecedented reputational damage after laid off employees formed an NGO opposing “speculative foreign capital.” The controversy fueled economic nationalism, extremely hostile media coverage, and led to prosecutorial investigations, trials, and tax probes.

• Challenge: Engaged late in the crisis, Insight made it clear it was too late to impact issues that were already in the courts. But that it would be able to help the fund restore credibility with media and stakeholders. This was at a time when authorities, in violation of Korea’s own regulations, bowed to public pressure and prevented the fund from selling the bank.

• Approach: Insight focused on stabilizing communications and moving away from confrontational statements issued in America toward transparent, fact-based media engagement in Korea. Insight served as a local media interface, facilitating high-profile interviews and providing reporters with verifiable data, context, and on-the-record access.

• Outcome: While the program was frustratingly too late to turn everything around, the public mood shifted as media became more balanced and fact-driven, and the fund was able to exit its acquisition.