"'Dedication to Education and Nation'... 20th Memorial Exhibition for Shin Yong-ho, Founder of Kyobo Life Insurance"

World's First Education Insurance Innovator
Founded Kyobo Book Centre to Spread Education and Knowledge

Shin Chang-jae, CEO and Chairman of Kyobo Life Insurance, is touring the "Daesan Shin Yong-ho Kyobo Life Insurance Founder 20th Anniversary Memorial Exhibition" held at Kyobo Bookstore Gwanghwamun Branch in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 1st. (Provided by Kyobo Life Insurance)

A memorial exhibition was held to mark the 20th anniversary of the passing of Shin Yong-ho, founder of Kyobo Life Insurance.

The Daesan Shin Yong-ho Memorial Foundation held a company-wide memorial ceremony on the 1st at Kyobo Life Insurance headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the passing of Daesan (大山) Shin Yong-ho, founder of Kyobo Life Insurance.

About 300 people attended the memorial ceremony, including key figures from academia, culture, related organizations, employees of Kyobo Life Insurance and its affiliates, and representatives of the Kyobo Public Interest Foundation.

Namgung Hoon, chairman of the Daesan Shin Yong-ho Memorial Foundation, said in his memorial address, "Daesan was an entrepreneur who loved the nation and people through insurance and education for nurturing talent, and an educational leader who realized his belief in promoting national education. Above all, he loved people and ran his business for people, not money. This culture of respecting human dignity became the management philosophy of Kyobo Life Insurance."

He continued, "The will and entrepreneurial spirit left by Daesan continue to protect Kyobo Life Insurance, its affiliates, and the foundation today, helping them grow bigger and more fruitful. On the 20th anniversary of Daesan’s passing, I hope his noble entrepreneurial spirit will be conveyed as a timely message to everyone living today."

Until his passing in September 2003 at the age of 86, Daesan’s life was defined by 'national education.' His passion for 'national education,' which blossomed through the Japanese colonial period and the Korean War, led to the founding of Daehan Education Insurance (now Kyobo Life Insurance). He devoted his life to practicing the founding ideals of 'promotion of national education' and 'formation of national capital.'

In 1958, Daesan invented the world's first 'education insurance.' In 1981, he established Kyobo Book Centre, known as 'Gukmin Bookstore.' He also founded public interest foundations in rural development, literature, and education to help education and knowledge take root in society.

In 1983, Shin Yong-ho, founder of Daesan Kyobo Life Insurance (left), received the 'World Insurance Award' from the International Insurance Society (IIS) as the first Korean for his contributions to the development of the global insurance industry. (Provided by Kyobo Life Insurance)

For these contributions, he was awarded the Gold Crown Cultural Medal in 1996, the first entrepreneur to receive it. In 1983, he became the first Korean to receive the 'World Insurance Award' from the International Insurance Society (IIS). In 1996, he also received the 'Insurance Hall of Fame Laurel Award,' known as the Nobel Prize of insurance. His son, Shin Chang-jae, CEO and chairman of Kyobo Life Insurance, is scheduled to receive the 'Insurance Hall of Fame Laurel Award' from IIS this November. This is the first time in the history of the global insurance industry that a father and son entrepreneurs have been inducted into the Insurance Hall of Fame.

The Daesan memorial exhibition, "Daesan to Today's Youth," will be held until the 30th at the Kyobo Book Centre Gwanghwamun branch Art Space. Additionally, the Kyobo Education Foundation will hold an academic symposium on the 7th under the theme "Daesan’s Humanistic Education and the Future Talent Code." Kyobo Book Centre plans to hold various events such as late-night bookstores and a 100-day reading challenge starting from the 15th.

◆Chronology of Daesan Shin Yong-ho, Founder of Kyobo Life Insurance

1917: Born in Yeongam, Jeollanam-do, into a family of independence activists

1936?1946: Grain distribution business in Dalian, Beijing, China (interacted with independence activists such as Lee Yuk-sa and Shin Gap-beom)

1958: Founded Daehan Education Insurance, invented the world’s first education insurance

1981: Opened Kyobo Book Centre Gwanghwamun branch

1983: Received the 'World Insurance Award' from the International Insurance Society (IIS)

1991: Established Daesan Rural Foundation, 1992: Daesan Cultural Foundation, 1997: Kyobo Education Foundation

1996: Received IIS 'Insurance Hall of Fame Laurel Award' and awarded the Gold Crown Cultural Medal

2000: Received the 'Asian Productivity Organization (APO) National Award'

2003: Passed away at age 86

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