[Figures in the News] Ha Tae-kyung Transforms from Politician to Insurance Man

Ha Tae-kyung, the 19th president of the Insurance Training Institute, officially took office and began his duties on the 1st. On the 2nd, President Ha said, "I will look at the world through the eyes of insurance, not politics," adding, "I will become an insurance professional who chemically integrates with the insurance industry like family and moves toward the future."

President Ha is a pro-government figure who started as a social activist. Since 2018, political figures have held the position of president of the Insurance Training Institute. Previously, the position was mainly held by former directors at the Financial Supervisory Service specializing in the insurance sector. In 2018, Jeong Hee-soo, a three-term lawmaker from the Saenuri Party (now the People Power Party), took the 17th presidency after losing the nomination for the 20th general election. Following him, Min Byung-doo, a former lawmaker from the Democratic Party who did not run in the 21st general election, assumed the 18th presidency.

Born in 1968, President Ha graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in physics. He then worked as a senior researcher at SK Telecom's Management and Economic Research Institute and served as an advisor to the National Unification Advisory Council before being elected as a member of the National Assembly in 2012. Having served as a lawmaker in the 19th, 20th, and 21st National Assemblies, he was eliminated in the People Power Party primary for Seoul Jung-Seongdong ahead of the 22nd general election. During his time as a lawmaker, he mainly participated in standing committees related to foreign affairs and national security. He has virtually no experience in the insurance field.

The Insurance Training Institute is a specialized training organization established in 1965 by insurance companies' investments. It trains personnel related to insurance, such as actuaries, loss adjusters, and insurance brokers. The president is known to receive an annual salary of 250 million KRW during a three-year term.

President Ha stated, "Based on my 12 years of legislative experience, I will take the lead in strengthening the competitiveness and status of the Insurance Training Institute as a professional industrial training organization going forward."