[Asia Exclusive] Former Deputy Minister of Strategy and Finance Expert in Budget and Finance... 'Fast and Meticulous'

Kim Yong-jin, President of the National Pension Service

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] Chairman Kim Yong-jin is leading innovation based on over 30 years of public service experience in central government agencies. He majored in Education at Sungkyunkwan University and passed the 30th Administrative Examination in 1986.

After working at the Ministry of Education, he moved to the Planning and Budget Office (now the Ministry of Economy and Finance), where he served as Director of Fiscal Standards, Director of the External Economic Bureau, Public Innovation Planning Officer, and Spokesperson. In 2017, he was appointed as the 2nd Vice Minister. Before his appointment as the 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, he served as President of Korea East-West Power for about a year.

Chairman Kim broke an 8-month leadership vacancy and took office as the 17th chairman last August. From the start of his tenure, he faced challenges. Public criticism followed a marijuana smoking incident involving an employee of the Fund Management Headquarters. Chairman Kim immediately launched a strong reform effort. He wrote a public apology to the people, bowed directly to the public, and is carrying out a large-scale internal innovation.

Seven months after his inauguration, there are some complaints within the corporation that "it is difficult to work." This is because, having held key positions in the Ministry of Economy and Finance and being well-versed in budgeting and finance, the expectations for work performance are high. During his time at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, he worked as Director of the Social Fund Division, expanding his understanding of the National Pension Service, and is known for his quick grasp of work and strict standards.

Chairman Kim’s goal is to create a "National Pension for all citizens that makes people happy." His immediate task is to eliminate pension blind spots so that all citizens can benefit.

To this end, he is promoting a legislative amendment to add an "income criterion" to the eligibility requirements for daily and part-time workers, aiming for implementation in January next year. He is preparing for the era of a 1,000 trillion won fund through global partnerships and activation of responsible investment. He is also focusing on forming a smart organization where innovation becomes part of the organizational culture by changing the working environment and methods.

Chairman Kim emphasized, "The biggest concern when I took office was to create a pension that benefits all citizens," adding, "We will improve the system to eliminate blind spots and nurture global talents with capabilities and expertise to become a trusted National Pension Service for the people."