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| Ex-Financial Services Commission Chairman Lim Jong-ryong speaks during an online seminar hosted by EY Hanyoung, Jan. 17, 2021, in this file photo provided by the accounting firm. Yonhap |
By Lee Min-hyung
Lim Jong-ryong, former chief of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), declared his interest in becoming Woori Financial Group's next chairman, citing his competitive edge in mapping out a balanced and neutral management vision.
"I have an objective and neutral mindset when it comes to managing a financial organization, which was proven by my broad range of experience at government organizations and NH Financial Group," Lim told The Korea Times during a telephone interview.
"My strong point is the ability to introduce a fresh and objective angle, but it is too early to share my specific vision at a time when Woori Financial Group has not yet finalized a shortlist for its next chairman."
Woori Financial Group is scheduled to unveil two or three candidates for its chairmanship on Jan. 27, and confirm the final one sometime in early February. Last week, the group longlisted eight candidates for the position. Lim is widely expected to vie for the chairmanship against Woori Bank CEO Lee Won-duk, another strong contender.
Lim is the only former bureaucrat out of the eight candidates. He spent most of his career as a government official at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, becoming the first vice minister there between April 2010 and September 2011. He was also chairman of NH Financial Group between 2013 and 2015. After ending his career there, he returned to the civil service as chairman of the FSC between March 2015 and July 2017.
He reiterated his strong interest in the Woori chairmanship despite opposition from Woori's union, which has stepped up criticism of the executive recommendation committee parachuting in an outside figure without experience at the financial holding firm.
"I will stay in the race as I believe I am qualified for the position with experience as a top executive at NH," Lim said. "It is not reasonable to say that I am not fit for the role simply because of my former career as a bureaucrat."
The next Woori chairman will take office at the end of March this year after receiving approval through a regular shareholders meeting. The reshuffle of Woori's top management came after outgoing Chairman Son Tae-seung expressed his intention of stepping down from the post without extending his term amid escalating political pressure from financial watchdogs.
