[New Year's Address] Um Juseong, CEO of Kiwoom Securities: "2026 Will Be a Turning Point for the Next Leap... Strengthening IT and Asset Management Competitiveness"

Um Juseong, CEO of Kiwoom Securities, has defined 2026 as a crucial turning point for advancing to the next stage, identifying the strengthening of IT competitiveness and the expansion of asset management-focused business as core priorities.

In his New Year’s address on January 2, CEO Um stated, “Last year, Kiwoom Securities was expected to achieve its best performance ever and secured a foundation for future growth by obtaining approval for issuance-based notes,” adding, “2026 will be the year we take another leap forward based on this progress.”

CEO Um outlined five key focus areas to maintain competitiveness in a rapidly changing financial environment. First, he emphasized plans to further enhance IT competitiveness. “The beginning and growth of Kiwoom Securities have always been accompanied by IT competitiveness,” he said. “We must secure a competitive edge in artificial intelligence (AI), data, system stability, information security, and across the entire service architecture.”

The company will also accelerate decision-making and service innovation. CEO Um explained, “Speed is both our competitive edge and the key to differentiation,” and added, “The company will provide the necessary resources and boldly improve our systems.”

He also highlighted the company’s transformation from being perceived as stock trading-centered to becoming an asset management firm. “In addition to domestic and overseas stocks, derivatives, and bonds, we have expanded into the retirement pension business starting in the second half of the year, establishing a product base essential for customer asset management,” he said. “Let this year be the starting point for evolving into a company that manages the flow of customer assets and supports their growth.”

Stable growth through revenue diversification was also presented as a major task. The company plans to foster issuance-based notes and the retirement pension business as new growth pillars, while also strengthening expertise and execution in the investment banking (IB) and S&T divisions.

Furthermore, CEO Um stressed that protecting financial consumers and safeguarding customer information will be the top priorities in all decision-making, and that the company will faithfully fulfill its social responsibilities as a securities firm by supplying venture capital and promoting productive finance.

In closing, CEO Um stated, “As we take on challenges and put them into action with meaning, we will find ourselves having grown before we know it,” and added, “I hope that in 2026, the Year of the Red Horse, everyone will run energetically and joyfully throughout the year.”