KOREA WHO

Yim Jong-yong is the chairman of Woori Financial Group.

He is working on strengthening Woori Financial Group's non-banking portfolio through the acquisition of insurance companies and the establishment of a securities firm.

He was born on August 3, 1959, in Boseong, Jeollanam-do.

He graduated from Youngdong High School in Seoul and majored in economics at Yonsei University.

In 1981, he entered public service by passing the 24th Administrative Examination.

He served as the head of the Banking System Division, Securities System Division, and Financial Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Finance and Economy, and as the First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance.

He concluded his public service career as Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister but returned to public service as the chairman of NH Nonghyup Financial Group and then as the chairman of the Financial Services Commission.

He is nicknamed the "Master of Mediation."

When he was appointed chairman of NH Nonghyup Financial Group, there were many concerns about whether he could withstand the powerful influence of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation due to his background as a former MOFIA (Ministry of Finance and Economy) official and his gentle personality.

However, before the acquisition of Woori Investment & Securities, he personally persuaded the heads of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation of the necessity of the acquisition, leading to the successful acquisition of Woori Investment & Securities.

There were many skeptical views, with some saying, "Even Zhuge Liang couldn’t handle Nonghyup Financial," but with his excellent mediation skills, he expanded Nonghyup's financial business, earning him the reputation of being the "Zhuge Liang of the financial world."