Kyobo Life Insurance recorded a 4.26% return on DB-type principal-guaranteed retirement pensions in the second quarter on a one-year basis.
Although this was a slight decrease from 4.34% in the first quarter, it still maintained the highest performance among life insurance companies and retained its position as an industry leader.
The firm has been credited for adhering to its medium- to long-term investment strategy without being swayed by short-term business results.
During the same period, Kyobo Life Insurance’s accumulated fund size reached 8.8996 trillion won, an increase of 84 billion won from the first quarter.
While the return rate itself is noteworthy, the life insurance firm proved the fact that the accumulated fund increased amid a trend of interest rate cuts while receiving strong trust from the market.
In fact, from January to April this year, Kyobo Life Insurance’s new retirement pension contract size was approximately 1.4 trillion won, accounting for 51.5% of the entire life insurance industry’s new contracts.
At the core of these achievements is Kyobo Life Insurance Chairman Shin Chang-jae’s honest management approach.
Kyobo Life Insurance has refined its retirement pension management system through a robo-advisor-based asset allocation solution, a collaboration system with external fund evaluation agencies, and a regular operation report meeting system for client companies.
Through such efforts, the principle of risk control and responsible management centered on the essence of finance emphasized by Chairman Shin has been proven by actual figures, according to life insurance industry observers.
Additionally, Kyobo Life Insurance has established the first AI-based retirement pension asset management system in the Korean life insurance industry and provides customized product portfolios to DB-type principal-guaranteed retirement pension and IRP customers.
A focus on stable performance that customers can feel, rather than on simply increasing returns, is seen as a differentiating factor.
The life insurer has also improved system accessibility through chatbots, Kakao Talk messenger services and mobile ETF trading, which is said to be quite different from the conservative image of the insurance industry.
Even as the retirement pension market is rapidly shifting from a corporate pension race to an individual retirement accounts (IRP) one, Kyobo Life Insurance is ranking very high in DB-type principal-guaranteed retirement pension returns in the life insurance industry.
Chairman Shin is known as a leader who emphasizes trust and sustainability over return indicators.
Rather than focusing on short-term marketing or high-yield financial products, he has chosen a straightforward approach through consistent research and risk management.
With Shin’s direction and internal execution power, Kyobo Life’s retirement pension business is regarded as a core growth driver rather than just a supplementary source of income, according to financial industry experts.
Even amid rising interest rate sensitivity and intensifying yield competition across the Korean life insurance industry, experts call Kyobo Life Insurance’s balance of stability and performances an exceptional result.
Meanwhile, Shin expressed his gratitude to Kyobo Life Insurance financial consultants who contributed to customer protection last year at the 2025 Customer Protection Awards Ceremony held at Songdo Convention Center in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, in May.
It was his first time attending a ceremony to congratulate consultants since 2018.
“This year’s award ceremony is particularly meaningful for Kyobo Life Insurance as it has the largest number of winners (1,714) since the event was first held in 2005,” Shin said in his congratulatory speech.
“I sincerely congratulate you on your valuable prizes and send my encouragement to all Kyobo Life Insurance financial consultants across the country.”
“Today’s award winners are those who have worked tirelessly over the past year to protect the precious dreams and everyday lives of our customers,” Shin continued.
“I am sure that countless hours of your efforts have led you to this place today.”
Shin expressed his strong love for the life insurance industry and his conviction about its social role, receiving a round of applause from financial consultants and employees.
Kyobo Life Insurance Chmn. Shin Chang-jae delivers a speech at the 67th anniversary celebration held at the Kyobo Life Insurance Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Aug. 7. (Photos: Kyobo Life Insurance)
67th Anniversary Ceremony
“A company that fails to win the hearts of customers in the market cannot survive,” said Shin at the 67th anniversary celebration held at the Kyobo Life Insurance Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Aug. 7.
“Kyobo Life Insurance will strive to become a sustainable 100-year-old company that pursues steady innovation to achieve outstanding business performances and seeks win-win growth with stakeholders,” he said.
Shin emphasized the need to accelerate VOC management, which actively incorporates voices of customers into all of the life insurer’s business activities.
He stated, “Even as the insurance market becomes more turbulent, we must practice sales and marketing by properly publicizing the noble spirit of life insurance to customers and the market. For our sustainable growth in the market, we must transform into an even more customer-centric company.”
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