![]() |
JB Financial Group Chairman Kim Ki-hong speaks at a ceremony celebrating its 10th anniversary, in Muju County, North Jeolla Province, Saturday. Courtesy of JB Financial Group |
By Lee Yeon-woo
JB Financial Group aims to evolve into a small yet highly profitable financial group, according to a long-term plan announced last Saturday at a ceremony marking its 10th anniversary in Muju County, North Jeolla Province.
The ceremony aimed to look back on the group's 10-year history and strengthen unity among its employees. Participating in the ceremony were the financial group's 3,500 employees along with JB Financial Group Chairman Kim Ki-hong, Jeonbuk Bank CEO Baek Jong-il, Kwangju Bank CEO Ko Byung-il, JB Woori Capital CEO Park Chun-won, JB Asset Management CEO Choi Won-cheol and JB Investment CEO Lee Gu-wook.
Launched in 2013, JB Financial Group has grown into a comprehensive financial group that oversees 10 affiliates, including the holding company. It is the first financial group headquartered in Korea's southwestern region. The group also operates subsidiaries in Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam.
During the ceremony, the chairman outlined four goals for the coming years: achieving quality growth focused on profitability, enhancing competitiveness in the digital sector, securing future growth engines by diversifying the business portfolio and strengthening the company's culture through transparent management and mutual respect.
"Economic conditions are volatile both at home and abroad, but I will focus on substantial management that prioritizes stable growth and profitability through thorough risk management," Kim said in his congratulatory remarks. "I will continue the winning streak of our group by expanding synergy between our subsidiaries."
Since being appointed to the job in 2019, Kim has been championing the vision of a "small yet young and strong financial group." Under his leadership, JB Financial Group's annual net income reached 601 billion won ($462 million) last year, an increase of more than 22 times compared to the first year of his term.