April 20, 2024

• 

[THE INVESTOR] The labor union of KB Kookmin Bank, one of Korea’s largest banks under the KB Financial Group, on Feb. 2 urged the immediate resignation of Chairman Yoon Jong-kyoo who is suspected of offering favors to his relative in an annual recruitment session.

According to the Financial Supervisory Service that recently investigated irregularities in hiring at local banks, the chairman’s relative-- reportedly his sister's granddaughter -- was hired in 2015 even though her test scores were 813th out of 840 applicants in the first round and 273th out of 300 in the second. The FSS found he could enter the firm as he received the highest scores during the final interviews. 

KB Financial Group Chairman Yoon Jong-kyoo

The union protested against Yoon whose term was renewed in November last year.

A KB spokesperson, however, denied the allegations, saying the entire process was fair.

In the meantime, other lenders here are also embroiled in the latest recruitment scandal that was triggered by the resignation of Woori Bank CEO Lee Kwang-goo in November over his role in the bank’s unfair hiring practices.

By Park Ga-young (gypark@heraldcorp.com)