Jun Ji-hye, a reporter at the finance desk of The Korea Times, focuses primarily on economic policy and government agencies, mainly covering the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Ministry of Budget and Planning, the National Tax Service and the Korea Customs Service. She previously covered financial authorities, including the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service, and earlier worked on the political, city and business desks, reporting on a wide range of issues.
Next-generation short-distance track star signs sponsorship deal with KB Financial
Joel Jin Nwamadi / Courtesy of KB Financial Group
By Jun Ji-hye
Joel Jin Nwamadi, recognized as Korea’s next-generation runner in short-distance track and field, has signed a sponsorship deal with KB Financial Group.
Nwamadi, born to a Korean mother and a Nigerian father, started his athletic career in track and field in fifth grade in elementary school.
Despite facing a three-year hiatus due to growth pains in his heels, he overcame the setback with dedication and strong will. After moving on to high school, he consistently improved his times, demonstrating outstanding potential.
As a high school senior in September 2024, Nwamadi set a new high school record of 10.30 seconds in the 100-meter sprint, garnering attention as a promising athlete with the potential to be the first to break Korea’s 10-second barrier.
After graduating from high school in January, he joined Yecheon County’s athletic team, and continues to challenge himself to break new records through technical improvements.
“Being with KB Financial Group feels like a dream, and I will do my best to repay that faith by producing excellent results,” Nwamadi said.
A KB Financial official said, “We will continue to provide support to help Nwamadi gain more experience and grow into a world-class athlete, beyond just being a promising track and field talent in Korea.”
The financial holding company has continued to support athletes not only in summer sports like swimming, gymnastics and badminton, but also in winter sports such as short track, figure skating and curling.
Its key subsidiary, KB Kookmin Bank, also operates shooting and basketball teams.