KOREA WHO
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Chairman and CEO of Kyobo Life Insurance
Shin Chang-jae
Doctor-Turned Second-Generation Owner Seeks Financial Group Expansion Through AXA Acquisition
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Last Updated on Sep 7, 2026
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Chairman and CEO of Kyobo Life Insurance
Life Summary
Shin Chang-jae is chairman and CEO of Kyobo Life Insurance.
He is the only owner-manager in South Korea’s life insurance industry.
He is seeking to transform Kyobo Life Insurance into a comprehensive financial group through a holding company structure while resolving disputes with financial investors and reviving plans for an initial public offering (IPO).
He was born in Seoul on October 31, 1953, as the eldest son among the two sons and two daughters of Kyobo Life Insurance founder Shin Yong-ho.
He graduated from Kyunggi High School in Seoul and Seoul National University College of Medicine. He earned master’s and doctoral degrees in medicine from Seoul National University Graduate School.
He worked as a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Seoul National University College of Medicine.
He entered management as vice chairman of Kyobo Life Insurance at the urging of his father, who had been diagnosed with cancer and was considering the succession of management control.
He is pursuing “ambidextrous management,” generating profits from the life insurance business with one hand while identifying future growth engines such as MyData and healthcare services with the other.
He can be bold at times but is generally cautious.
He is the only owner-manager in South Korea’s life insurance industry.
He is seeking to transform Kyobo Life Insurance into a comprehensive financial group through a holding company structure while resolving disputes with financial investors and reviving plans for an initial public offering (IPO).
He was born in Seoul on October 31, 1953, as the eldest son among the two sons and two daughters of Kyobo Life Insurance founder Shin Yong-ho.
He graduated from Kyunggi High School in Seoul and Seoul National University College of Medicine. He earned master’s and doctoral degrees in medicine from Seoul National University Graduate School.
He worked as a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Seoul National University College of Medicine.
He entered management as vice chairman of Kyobo Life Insurance at the urging of his father, who had been diagnosed with cancer and was considering the succession of management control.
He is pursuing “ambidextrous management,” generating profits from the life insurance business with one hand while identifying future growth engines such as MyData and healthcare services with the other.
He can be bold at times but is generally cautious.