Hana Financial Group chairman Kim Jung-tae has decided that the best way to overcome the group’s internal strife over its banking sector merger is to promote communication among employees.

As a part of such efforts, Kim took a hike in central Seoul with some 120 employees of group affiliates Hana Bank and Korea Exchange Bank to enjoy the lunar eclipse last Wednesday.

The so-called moonlight tour started off with a tour of Hanyang Capital Museum, which shows the history of the capital back in the Joseon Dynasty, and was followed by a hike along the Naksan fortress wall.

“The peaceful walk helped soothe the employees who had been under some stress regarding the merger with KEB, and helped them come together to communicate with the chairman on what was on their minds,” said an official of Hana Financial.

The event was also designed especially to build stronger bridges of comunication between the two banks, he added.

When the group took over KEB in 2012, the management signed an agreement to ensure five-years of independent operation for KEB.

But as the domestic banking industry continued to struggle, Kim announced in July that the two banking units are to be merged as early as within the year, a move which prompted protests by the KEB’s labor union.

The merger, which came sooner than expected, would create a positive synergy effect of 312 billion won ($292 million) per year, according to Kim.

“We are one family and there is nothing that we cannot do as long as we have trust for one another,” Kim told employees after the hike. “Just as it is the case for reunification, our merger should be a bonanza.”

President Park Geun-hye had earlier called reunification with North Korea a “bonanza,” for the South.

Earlier in September, the chairman also visited Hoengseong to meet with employees at the group’s vision workshop, officials said.

After giving a lecture on the group’s visions, Kim opened the floor to participants and answered questions, most of which were about the merger.

“You must first do your best and then pursue joy in your respective posts,” he told employees, urging them to put more faith in the management’s decision.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)