[2020 Capital Investment Award] "Beyond External Growth, Investor Trust and Profit Basic Values Must Be Fulfilled"

Congratulatory Address by Choi Hoon, Standing Commissioner of the Financial Services Commission

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jihwan] At the 2020 Asia Capital Investment Awards ceremony, I would like to express my gratitude to the judges who worked hard for fair evaluation. Above all, I sincerely congratulate all the awardees who have received the honor today.

This year has truly been eventful. The novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), which spread from the beginning of the year, has changed our lives completely, evolving beyond a simple virus to a pandemic on a global scale. Economic activities have been restricted due to social distancing, exacerbating difficulties for small business owners and self-employed individuals, and the global economy is expected to record unprecedented negative growth. The KOSPI also experienced significant volatility, plunging sharply in March before surpassing the 2700 mark, making this year a truly turbulent one.

During times of increased volatility, it is essential to remain faithful to the basics. Along with continuously innovating to meet investor demand by developing diverse products, the efforts of experts to enhance investor trust are crucial. As public interest and expectations regarding investment and asset management rise, individual investors have firmly established themselves as a key pillar of our stock market by net purchasing 60 trillion won this year, alongside institutional investors and foreigners.

It is necessary to self-assess whether the financial investment industry is committed not only to 'external growth' but also to the fundamental values of 'investor trust and benefit.' Leveraging the recent intense interest in the stock market, financial authorities and the industry must work together to ensure that our capital market grows steadily without wavering. The government will continue to strive for institutional improvements so that our stock market can grow as a fairer and more transparent investment arena, trusted by all market participants.

The investment market that the public will face in 2021 is also expected to be a new period of turbulence, making it difficult to accurately predict the future. Abraham Lincoln, the respected president of the United States, and Peter Drucker, the founder of modern management, said, "The best way to predict the future is to create it yourself." Those of you working at the forefront of the capital market are creating the future of the investment environment through innovation and development despite difficult market conditions, turning that future into reality. Once again, I sincerely congratulate all the awardees today and deeply appreciate your hard work and dedication. I hope you will continue to contribute to the development of our capital market and the establishment of a sound investment culture.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.