Kim Ki-hong, chair and CEO of JB Financial Group, has purchased an additional 200 million won ($141,000) worth of treasury shares as part of ongoing efforts to enhance corporate value and shareholder returns.
According to a recent regulatory filing with the Financial Supervisory Service, Kim acquired 12,127 shares on the open market on April 9 at 16,542 won per share.
The latest purchase raises Kim’s total holdings to 160,000 shares, equivalent to 0.08 percent of JB Financial Group’s outstanding shares. That places him among the largest individual shareholders across the chairs of South Korea’s seven major financial holding groups.
Headquartered in North Jeolla Province, JB Financial is a regional banking group that trails Seoul-based giants such as KB, Shinhan and Hana in size and market presence. Kim’s continued share purchases stand out against that backdrop, underscoring a leadership strategy centered on shareholder alignment and long-term value creation.
Since taking the helm in 2019, Kim has bought treasury shares on seven occasions, reinforcing his commitment to bolstering market confidence in the group. During the period, JB Financial’s stock value surged nearly 180 percent.
Kim was recently reappointed in March for a third term, extending his tenure by another three years.
jwc@heraldcorp.com
