[Power K-Women] Turning a Store Facing Closure into the Nation's No.1... Embracing Change and Challenge Became a Miracle

Kang Sin-suk, Sh Suhyup Bank President
Sales Expert with Extensive Field Experience
Friendly and Meticulous to the Point of Keeping Customer Management Notes

Breaking All Glass Ceilings at Suhyup from First Female Branch Manager to Head of Division, Vice President, and Executive Director
Rising to Bank President After Over 40 Years with the Company

Suhyup Facing Holding Company Transition
Persistently Striving Without Losing Initial Determination
Confidently Competing with Major Commercial Banks

[Asia Economy Reporter Boo Aeri] "Opportunity favors only prepared minds." This is the phrase that Kang Shinsuk, CEO of Sh Suhyup Bank, likes the most and keeps close to her heart. In an interview with Asia Economy on the 12th, Kang emphasized, "Rather than blaming gender discrimination in our society, it is important to grow myself and enjoy change and challenges."

In fact, Kang's life has been a series of challenges. She is a pioneering figure within Suhyup, always associated with the term "first." She broke the glass ceiling inside Suhyup multiple times as the first female branch manager, first female head of a division, first female vice president, and first female registered executive. Joining the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives in 1979, she started as a rookie employee named "Kang Yang" and rose to the top position of the bank in over 40 years. Using her affinity and meticulousness to win others over, she confidently created a "female wind" in the male-dominated conservative financial sector.

The Miracle of Ogeum-dong Branch

Kang is a sales expert with abundant field experience. Especially, her passion that created the miracle of the Ogeum-dong branch is a famous anecdote often talked about among employees. Kang still cannot forget the moment when she turned a branch on the verge of closure into the nation's top-performing branch. In 2001, she was appointed branch manager of Ogeum-dong branch, which was struggling with poor performance. Kang doubled the deposit balance and increased loans by more than 3.5 times, transforming it into the leading branch with the best performance. During her two years as branch manager, Ogeum-dong branch achieved first place in performance for eight consecutive quarters. Later, Kang also led Seocho-dong branch to first place nationwide for 15 consecutive quarters.

Of course, behind this glory was a difficult process Kang faced. She recalled, "At that time, there was a male-dominant culture so pervasive that it felt like a wall even bigger than today's glass ceiling. It was especially severe in drinking and dining culture." Once, a client visited the branch from afar to attract deposits, and Kang, grateful, treated him to a meal. However, the client specifically wanted Bosintang (dog meat soup). Kang said, "I was embarrassed but tried not to show that I couldn't eat it, so I wrapped it in chives and swallowed it without properly chewing." She recalled, "That client seemed to like the meal so much that he remained a top client for a long time."

Kang is famous for her detailed sales method, even creating a "customer management note" from information gained during meetings with clients. She also encouraged employees to make "management notes," believing that having a sense of ownership creates synergy within the organization. Kang explained, "The financial sector is quite conservative, so there are not many places for women to stand. My competitive edge was empathy and emotional connection with customers." She added, "There is an old saying that you must grab a rabbit by its ears, a chicken by its wings, and a person by their heart. To win a person's heart, you must approach each individual sincerely and with empathy."

How to Live as a Working Mom

Even the seemingly strong Kang has moments when her heart weakens. She is also a mother of one son and one daughter. When she was working at the Hwagok-dong branch and had her first child, the daily commute of one hour and 30 minutes became difficult. She was even told by a hospital to choose between "child or job." Kang said, "It was one of the hardest moments in my life. I couldn't give up either, but fortunately, my colleagues at the branch shared the workload, and my family helped me, so I endured until the end."

Moreover, as a working mom, there were many moments when she had to hold back tears. She felt guilty for not being able to fully care for her children when they needed her the most. Especially during her time as branch manager of Ogeum-dong, she had to work on weekends visiting clients. To be a mother her children could be proud of, she even brought them to the office to show them a "working mom" and helped them understand.

Whenever she struggled at work, she recalled a poem called "A Single Jujube" by poet Jang Seok-ju, which she happened to see during her branch manager days. Kang said, "At that time, I thought of the line, 'A jujube does not turn red by itself. Inside it are several typhoons, thunders, and lightnings.' I reminded myself that the pain I am going through is nothing compared to the pain of a small jujube, so I should not give up but endure and move forward."

Challenge of the First Female CEO Competing with Large Banks

Kang, who must lead Suhyup Bank amid internal and external economic uncertainties, faces a new challenge. This year is especially meaningful as it is the first year after Suhyup Bank fully repaid its public funds. Furthermore, Suhyup is preparing to transition into Suhyup Financial Group in 2024. Kang is preparing for the transition by acquiring asset management and capital companies. Kang emphasized, "The fundamental principle I hold while managing Suhyup Bank is 'Choshim Bulmang Mabu Jakchim' (Never forget the original intention and persistently drill a stone). No matter how difficult the task, if you do not lose your original intention and persist until the end, you can achieve it. This attitude is necessary for Suhyup Bank to compete confidently with large commercial banks."

Upon taking office, Kang set a goal to create a "happy workplace" for Suhyup Bank's juniors. Since her inauguration, she has continued communication management by visiting customer support centers and financial centers to listen directly to voices on the ground. Kang said, "Employees should enjoy the workplace where they spend more than half of their day, and through work and the workplace, they should be able to plan their own and their families' futures and happiness. This year, I will meet more employees and actively listen to their voices to make Suhyup Bank a happier workplace."

What advice does she want to give to female workers in our society, having experienced all kinds of hardships? She said, "If you constantly strive and prepare to grow yourself with passion and a spirit of challenge, you will not miss the one and only opportunity that may come at any time. Especially when facing adversity and crisis, a person's true character is revealed, and prepared people shine even more in moments of crisis." She confidently added, "If you work firmly and broaden your base, you will surely succeed in your desired field."

▶Who is Kang Shinsuk?

Kang Shinsuk is a figure who confidently established her position as a female leader in the male-dominated conservative financial sector. Born in 1961, she graduated from Jeonju Girls' Commercial High School and joined Suhyup at the age of 19 in 1979. She later graduated from Seoul Cyber University and completed a master's course in public administration at Yonsei Graduate School. Various titles such as "the first manufacturer" and "the face of Suhyup" follow Kang. In 2002, on the 40th anniversary of Suhyup's founding, she was chosen as the image advertising model instead of a celebrity, becoming the face of Suhyup at age 40, the same age as Suhyup. Kang has held key positions such as branch manager of Seocho-dong, head of individual customer department, regional headquarters head, and marketing vice president. In 2016, she was appointed the first female executive director of the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives, becoming the first female registered executive in 54 years since Suhyup's establishment in 1962. Last year, she became the first female CEO of Suhyup Bank.