Kim Ki-hwan, the newly appointed chairman of the Fire Insurance Association, introduced a new management catchphrase: "People Who Protect the Future of the Nation."
During his inauguration ceremony on June 22, Kim stated, "A day without a fire and a day when families return home safely are not created by chance. It is the mission of our association to find hidden risks, prevent accidents, and create a safer society."
He added, "For the past 53 years, the association has been at the forefront of disaster risk management and disaster prevention technology in South Korea. The expertise and experience we have accumulated, along with the data gathered in the field, are invaluable assets that no other organization can easily replicate."
Kim identified several key factors driving change, including the increase in large-scale disasters due to climate change, the emergence of new risks such as electric vehicles, energy storage systems (ESS), and data centers, as well as the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies. He emphasized, "Change is not a choice but a reality, and it presents an opportunity for new growth rather than a crisis."
To address these challenges, he outlined a management direction focused on creating an association that grows together, communicates openly, and leads the future. His vision includes fostering communication among all employees while spearheading a future risk management system based on AI and data.
Kim remarked, "We must evolve from being an organization that responds after accidents occur to one that predicts and prevents risks in advance. We aim to become the control tower for national disaster prevention, setting the standard for safety in South Korea and guiding the direction of national disaster response."
Kim, born in 1963, graduated from Woosung High School and the Economics Department at Seoul National University. He joined KB Kookmin Bank in 1991 and has held various positions, including Executive Director of the Consumer Protection Group at KB Kookmin Bank, Executive Vice President of Risk Management at KB Financial Group, and CEO of KB Insurance.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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