---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001128361-26-000005"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "HOPE"
cik: "0001128361"
company_name: "HOPE BANCORP INC"
filed_at: "2026-01-16T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-16T09:44:07.002657+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.35
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.35
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Hope Bancorp director Scott Whang to retire; board size to reduce to 9

## Summary
- Scott Yoon-Suk Whang will not stand for re-election at the 2026 Annual Meeting, retiring after serving since 2007.
- Board size will be reduced from current count to 9 directors upon his retirement.
- Bylaws amended to adopt majority voting standard in uncontested elections and update stockholder nomination procedures.
- Corporate governance guidelines updated to strengthen Lead Independent Director role and add CEO succession planning provisions.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001128361-26-000005
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: HOPE
- cik: 0001128361
- company_name: HOPE BANCORP INC
- filed_at: 2026-01-16T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.35
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.35
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 3.03, 5.03, 5.02, 7.01, 8.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1128361/000112836126000005/0001128361-26-000005-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1128361/000112836126000005/hope-20260113.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001128361-26-000005
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001128361-26-000005.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001128361-26-000005.txt

## Source-grounded claims
- claim_id: 1075e86ee5b07e341fe6258360ef32b62e031376
  claim: HOPE BANCORP INC: Amended and restated bylaws with changes including majority voting standard, updated stockholder nomination and proposal procedures, record date requirement for stockholder action by consent or special meeting, updated indemnification provisions, sole board authority to fill vacancies, and increased (effective 2026-01-15).
  evidence_excerpt: on January 15, 2026, the Board of Directors of the Company amended and restated the Bylaws effective immediately. The Bylaws amendments, among other things, include: • Providing for a majority voting standard in uncontested elections consistent with the director resignation policy that is already in place; • Updating procedural, notice and information requirements for stockholder nominations of directors and submission of stockholder proposals to align with market and best practices; • Requiring stockholders seeking to act by consent or call a special meeting to first request the board fix a record date; • Updating the indemnification or advancement provisions to align with market and best practices; • Providing that the Board has the sole authority to fill vacancies on the Board; • Providing that the affirmative vote of a majority of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of the Company’s capital stock entitled to vote thereon is required for stockhold
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1128361/000112836126000005/0001128361-26-000005-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.