First Bank President Zheng Rishan, the first step is "Symbiotic Finance"… On-site voices are reflected in operations.

New Gwangju Bank President Jeong Il-san’s first official visit after taking office demonstrates a commitment to listen to local industry voices and incorporate them into future business strategies.

On January 2nd, immediately after completing his inauguration ceremony, President Jeong visited “Hoo Won,” an auto parts manufacturing company located in Gwangju Henan Industrial Park. There, he exchanged views with employees regarding the operational conditions of the manufacturing site and the difficulties faced by the company, and discussed plans to strengthen the regional industrial competitiveness. This move can be interpreted as Gwangju Bank, as a regional bank, actively exploring pathways for joint development with the local economy.

In the afternoon, he went to the Foreigners Financial Center in Gwangsan District, Gwangju, and held a joint discussion with representatives from Gwangju City, the Gwangju Foreign Residents Support Center, and the Foreigners’ Honor Passbook of Gwangsan District. The discussion focused on the inconveniences faced by foreign workers and immigrants in adapting to the Korean financial system and the necessary institutional improvements. Gwangju Bank stated that it will respond to the growth trend of the foreign population within and outside the region and is committed to expanding financial inclusion.

Subsequently, President Jeong also visited the Inclusive Finance Center in Dong District, Gwangju. There, he directly met with representatives of small business owners in the region to hear about operational difficulties caused by high interest rates and high living costs, such as funding shortages and loan burdens. Participants emphasized that expanding financial support and alleviating interest rate burdens are urgent. These on-site opinions are highly likely to influence the development of customized financial products and improvements in loan structures in the future.

At the end of his on-site visit, President Jeong Il-san emphasized, “Only when regional enterprises and small business owners grow can the regional economy recover,” and stated that he will genuinely reflect customers’ voices in financial policies and products. He clearly expressed that Gwangju Bank will serve as a leading financial institution to activate the regional economy and fulfill its responsibilities.

This first action demonstrates that the new president will adopt “Symbiotic Finance” as a core value. Moving forward, it will be worth watching how much Gwangju Bank can reflect diverse regional voices in its policies and contribute to substantively alleviating financial inequality.