The new Seoul office and Hong’s appointment mark Ohana’s strategic entry into building new partnerships across the Asia-Pacific region
AUSTIN, Texas, July 29, 2026 – Ohana Real Estate Investors (“Ohana”), a vertically integrated, SEC-registered real estate investment firm specializing in high-quality hospitality and residential assets, today announced the opening of its first office in Seoul, South Korea, and the appointment of Cheolhee Hong as Managing Director, Business Development. Hong will lead Ohana’s business development efforts across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, with a focus on cultivating new relationships and expanding the firm’s institutional presence in the region.
Based in Seoul, Hong will serve as Ohana’s primary presence in APAC, seeking to grow the firm’s relationships as part of Ohana’s long term growth strategy in the region. He will collaborate closely with senior leadership at Ohana’s U.S. offices to align regional business development efforts with the firm’s broader objectives.
Hong brings more than 12 years of experience in cross-border real estate investment, asset management, and institutional investor relations across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. He joins Ohana from Pacific Asset Management in Seoul, where he served as General Manager overseeing the firm’s global alternative investment platform, and previously served as Senior Manager in the Real Asset Investment Division at NH Investment & Securities, where he led cross-border transactions exceeding $1.5 billion in total value. Hong holds a B.A. in Economics from Indiana University Bloomington and is a Certified Investment Asset Manager through the Korea Financial Investment Association.
“The Asia-Pacific region represents a significant and growing center of institutional investment activity, and establishing a presence in Seoul is a natural and exciting step for Ohana,” said G. Christopher Smith, Founder & CEO of Ohana. “Cheolhee’s deep expertise and regional relationships make him ideally suited to represent Ohana in the market, and we look forward to the long-term relationships he will build on behalf of the firm.”
“I am excited to join Ohana and help expand its presence in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Cheolhee Hong, Managing Director, Business Development at Ohana. “Ohana’s differentiated investment platform and focus on best-in-class assets are highly compelling to the sophisticated institutional investors across the region, and I look forward to introducing the firm’s investment approach to a broader set of partners.”
About Ohana Real Estate Investors
Ohana Real Estate Investors (Ohana) is a vertically integrated real estate investment manager specializing in the hospitality and residential sectors. Founded in 2009, we invest in premier properties where human connection thrives, focusing on key urban and resort markets across North America. Ohana manages nearly $4B+ on behalf of a global investor base through dedicated equity and credit fund strategies. For more information, please visit ohanare.com.