ABOUT

AYSPEHERE

combines the Old English

"AY" (always, forever) with "SPHERE" (realm, ecosystem)

I currently work in strategic planning at the Korea office of a global credit rating agency. My role involves working with the standards, data, and evaluation frameworks used in international capital markets, and I have spent time understanding what information is practically needed between investors and issuers. Alongside my work, I am pursuing a doctoral program in environmental finance, researching the relationship between sustainable bonds and actual environmental outcomes.

I have also had a long-standing interest in Islamic finance. Believing that Korean companies need to understand the financial language and norms of Islamic markets to engage effectively with that region, I completed a master's degree in Islamic finance in the UK. During my studies, I gained hands-on experience through an internship at an international financial institution, where I observed how sukuk are applied to infrastructure projects such as roads, hospitals, and renewable energy. Recently, I published a professional reference book in Korean that systematically covers the structure, market, and risks of sukuk for the Korean market.

Through this blog, I hope to quietly document the questions I encounter while studying and working, and the thoughts that emerge from practice. I will slowly explore topics that may be unfamiliar but important—such as ESG credit evaluation, sustainability-linked bonds, and Shariah finance principles—finding a balance between theory and practice.

CONTACT

Welcome questions thoughts on Islamic finance and sukuk.