Yang Jong-hee, KB Financial Group Chairman: "Growing Together with the People... We Will Continuously Coexist"

Inauguration Ceremony on the Morning of the 21st
From Ordinary Bank Clerk to Chairman in Over 30 Years
"Feeling the Heavy Role and Responsibility of Finance"

Yang Jong-hee, Chairman of KB Financial Group, took office on the morning of the 21st at the new building of KB Kookmin Bank's Yeouido headquarters, with about 150 attendees including customers, small business owners, partner employees, representatives of social enterprises, and executives and staff.

Yang Jong-hee, Chairman of KB Financial Group, announced on the 21st that he will "create a group that grows together with the people."

At the inauguration ceremony held at the new building of KB Kookmin Bank's headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the same day, Chairman Yang said, "I will practice management that constantly coexists with society."

Taking office amid ongoing pressure on the financial sector, including President Yoon Seok-yeol's remarks on 'gapjil' (abuse of power) and 'jongnoreut' (servitude), as well as discussions in the National Assembly about windfall taxes, he repeatedly emphasized 'coexistence.'

Chairman Yang said, "I joined as an ordinary employee and have been with KB for over 30 years. I asked myself what role KB should play now and what the historical mission before us is," adding, "Many people in various parts of our society are still facing difficulties."

He continued, "Issues such as small business owners and self-employed people striving to recover after COVID-19, and the marriage and childbirth problems of the younger generation who should be the hope for the future, are no longer just national issues but challenges for all of society," and said, "I deeply feel that the role and responsibility of finance are heavier than ever."

Chairman Yang emphasized, "KB has been a financial company that grew together with its neighbors, and most of the people in the Republic of Korea are KB customers," adding, "The growth of KB only has value when all citizens are happy together and life becomes more prosperous."

He then presented four management directions: "management that constantly coexists with society," "management that provides the best experience to customers," "management that gives pride and dreams to employees," and "management that can repay the support and encouragement of shareholders."

Chairman Yang explained, "There is a saying, 'If you go together, you go far.' Without the growth of value for customers and society, sustainable progress of a company is difficult." He added, "Now, only companies that pursue financial value as well as customer and social values in balance can grow continuously, and this is the standard of Korean finance as I see it."

He further stated, "KB will continuously discover areas where it can fulfill social responsibility and communicate continuously with our society to set an example as a leading financial group."

Chairman Yang emphasized 'dignified sales' to employees. He said, "The true dignity of a financial professional comes from treating customers' assets as if they were their own and becoming a model financial institution without accidents." He also announced plans to redesign all group systems and policies centered on frontline employees responsible for sales.

Additionally, Chairman Yang said, "The value of growing together with society, customers, and employees ultimately leads to the enhancement of KB's corporate value, which in turn connects to shareholder value growth," and added, "We will reflect daily on whether KB is moving toward a tomorrow that grows together with the people."

Meanwhile, Chairman Yang started as a bank clerk and rose to the chairman position. He joined the Housing Bank in 1989, worked for 20 years in KB Kookmin Bank's branches and finance-related departments, and moved to KB Financial Group in 2008. Since 2014, he has served as executive director in charge of group strategy, vice president, and after being appointed vice chairman in 2021, he also led divisions such as global, insurance, digital, individual customers, asset management, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SME).

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