▲ Financial Services Commission Chairman Lee Eok-won
Financial Services Commission Chairman Lee Eok-won remarked on the 19th that "with job requirements rapidly changing due to the adoption of artificial intelligence and a growing preference for experienced workers, the barrier to entering the financial sector feels high for young people," urging financial institutions to actively hire and nurture talent.
He promised that starting next year, the job fair will be expanded from once to twice a year, with one of them held outside the capital region to support young people in local areas.
Chairman Lee made the remarks during his congratulatory speech at the "2026 Joint Financial Sector Recruitment Fair" held at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul on the 19th, stating, "Please actively recruit and foster the talent needed for the AI era."
He continued, "I understand that various financial institutions have recently been expanding the recruitment of regional talent and socially disadvantaged groups, including people with disabilities," and requested, "Please work together so that such practices can expand across the entire financial sector."
The fair, which runs for two days starting today, marks its 10th anniversary this year, with a record-breaking 82 companies participating.
By industry, participants include banks (15), securities (9), insurance (16), state-run financial enterprises (20), specialized credit finance (12), associations (6), and overseas institutions (4).
In particular, the "recruitment-linked on-site interview" program, which offers benefits such as exemption from document screening to outstanding interviewees, has been expanded from focusing mainly on the banking sector to include Korea Investment & Securities and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Seoul Branch.
In addition, 31 companies from state-run financial enterprises, life insurance, non-life insurance, and specialized credit finance sectors will conduct mock interviews, and all participating institutions will provide career counseling.
This year's conferences have diversified to focus on job-specific knowledge rather than organizational culture or basic financial knowledge.
Furthermore, a "Financial Job Experience Pavilion" has been newly established to allow young people to experience actual work environments.
The FSC decided to transform the fair's official website into a financial sector recruitment information platform to continuously provide information.
National Assembly National Policy Committee Chairman Yoo Dong-soo also emphasized, "I hope that participating institutions will trust the capabilities and potential of young people and provide more opportunities."
Meanwhile, Chairman Lee announced on this day the creation of a new "promising youth startup guaranteed loan" offering preferential interest rates and guarantee fees to resolve funding difficulties faced by youth startups.
Previously, the FSC announced during its policy report to the President in July that it would create the 200 billion won loan program through the Korea Credit Guarantee Fund and the Industrial Bank of Korea.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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