Woori chairman puts AI transformation at center of digital finance push

Woori Financial Group Chairman Yim Jong-yong speaks during the group’s 2026 management strategy workshop the group's headquarters in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Woori Financial Group

Woori Financial Group is repositioning itself as an artificial intelligence (AI) financial platform, declaring the technology to be the core operating logic of the group’s growth, the group said Sunday.

The move indicates that Woori believes technology-led productivity will define the group’s competitiveness, rather than relying primarily on balance sheet expansion.

Woori Financial Group Chairman Yim Jong-yong unveiled the strategy at the group’s 2026 management strategy workshop, Friday, attended by about 400 executives and employees.

He characterized the past three years as key ones that led to the group’s full privatization, stronger capital ratios and completion of the bank's portfolio as a comprehensive financial services provider, including insurance and securities businesses.

This year, he said, will open a new era where productive and inclusive finance, coupled with group-wide AI transformation (AX), will create deep synergies.

Central to the drive is AX. Woori plans to implement 344 AI use cases by next year, including 200 at banks and 144 at non-bank affiliates.

AI use will be woven into management, operations and risk control.

Lim said AI will increasingly determine leadership in finance, a reason why a rapid adoption of AI-centered decision-making is needed across all units.

The AI push is being spearheaded with renewed emphasis on productive finance, an area where Woori has structural strength as a traditional corporate finance leader.

“We plan to strengthen synergies across banking, insurance and securities, seeking to achieve a growth of 20 percent generated by non-bank businesses,” the group said.

“Woori’s efforts to integrate AI transformation with consumer protection and inclusive finance will help us lead the market as both technologically advanced and socially credible financial group.”