Shinhan Bank reshuffle leads to internal row
Published: 26 Dec. 2018, 20:08
The head of Shinhan Bank has expressed discontent with a recent reshuffle by the Shinhan Financial Group holding company.
In the latest leadership change, a new CEO will replace incumbent Wi Sung-ho three months before the end of his term. This deviates from the conventional practice of regular and predictable management changes.
“After the sudden announcement on Dec. 21, I got a lot of calls from acquaintances who said they couldn’t understand,” Wi said. “I also felt confused because it came out of thin air.”
Shinhan’s nomination committee recommended that Jin Ok-dong, vice president of Shinhan Financial Group, head Shinhan Bank.
Shinhan Financial Group noted Jin’s work overseas, but it refrained from stating the exact reasons why it refused Wi a second term.
Industry insiders suspect that Wi’s alleged involvement in a bribery case from 2008 may be relevant to the lack of a second-term offer.
A committee at the Ministry of Justice requested earlier this year that prosecutors look into an allegation that Ra Eung-Chan, former chairman of Shinhan Financial Group, bribed Lee Sang-deuk, the older brother of former President Lee Myung-bak.
The committee accused high-ranking figures at Shinhan, including Wi, of handling 300 million won ($266,559) of payments in the affair.
Wi said that the case would not have been a big factor in the recent reshuffle. He also said the transition to Jin would take some time because of the nominee’s lack of experience in the domestic banking business, a comment seen as a swipe at Jin.
“Nominee Jin Ok-dong doesn’t have any experience in the banking business at home in the recent 20 years. It will take a while to transfer my job,” Wi said.
Shinhan Bank is scheduled to hold a board meeting today to decide whether it will accept the recommendation by Shinhan’s nomination committee.
BY PARK EUN-JEE [[email protected]]
In the latest leadership change, a new CEO will replace incumbent Wi Sung-ho three months before the end of his term. This deviates from the conventional practice of regular and predictable management changes.
Wi Sung-ho
Shinhan’s nomination committee recommended that Jin Ok-dong, vice president of Shinhan Financial Group, head Shinhan Bank.
Shinhan Financial Group noted Jin’s work overseas, but it refrained from stating the exact reasons why it refused Wi a second term.
Industry insiders suspect that Wi’s alleged involvement in a bribery case from 2008 may be relevant to the lack of a second-term offer.
A committee at the Ministry of Justice requested earlier this year that prosecutors look into an allegation that Ra Eung-Chan, former chairman of Shinhan Financial Group, bribed Lee Sang-deuk, the older brother of former President Lee Myung-bak.
The committee accused high-ranking figures at Shinhan, including Wi, of handling 300 million won ($266,559) of payments in the affair.
Wi said that the case would not have been a big factor in the recent reshuffle. He also said the transition to Jin would take some time because of the nominee’s lack of experience in the domestic banking business, a comment seen as a swipe at Jin.
“Nominee Jin Ok-dong doesn’t have any experience in the banking business at home in the recent 20 years. It will take a while to transfer my job,” Wi said.
Shinhan Bank is scheduled to hold a board meeting today to decide whether it will accept the recommendation by Shinhan’s nomination committee.
BY PARK EUN-JEE [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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