Center Financial Corp. said Thursday that it has appointed Jae Whan Yoo to replace Seon-Hong Kim as president and chief executive officer.

Yoo, 57, who has more than 30 years of experience in the banking industry, will assume the new positions as of Jan. 16.

Prior to arriving at Center in 2004, Yoo was president and chief executive, of Los Angeles-based Hanmi Financial Corp., where he helped acquire Pacific Union Bank, the first Korean-owned bank in Southern California.

Shares in Center Financial were up 16 cents to $23.15 in midday trading Thursday.