사람을 살리다, 문화를 살리다: 교보생명의 이해관계자중심 기업가정신

초록

This study aims to explore the case of Kyobo Life Insurance, which has achieved a distinct growth trajectory from other Korean Chaebols with its stakeholder-centered entrepreneurship. Kyobo Life Insurance has built a unique business model pursuing shared growth between the business and society centered on education and culture. This approach is rooted in the founding philosophy and vision passed down from the founder's generation. Under founder Shin Yong-ho, Kyobo launched the world's first education insurance, the Jinhak Insurance. This enabled rapid financial growth while strongly contributing to the growth of Korea's education level. The Daesan Cultural Foundation and Kyobo Book Centre also have made long-term contributions to the advancement of Korean book industry. However, Kyobo faced a crisis in the 1990s. The education insurance market experienced a decline, founder’s health deteriorated, and faced a financial crisis triggered by the IMF crisis. Chairman Shin Chang-jae, inheriting the leadership from his father Shin Yong-ho, attempted to overcome the crisis through stakeholder-centric entrepreneur initiatives considering both core and peripheral stakeholders. Consequently, Kyobo achieved notable accomplishments: being selected as Korea’s Most Respected Company, ranking first in the life insurance sector on the Korea Sustainability Index (KSI) for 15 consecutive years, and both Chairman Shin Yong-ho and Shin Chang-jae receiving the World Insurance Award from the ISS. The company has also credited with its contribution to Han Kang’s 2016 Man Booker Prize and 2024 Nobel Prize. By pursuing stakeholder-centric entrepreneurship, Kyobo has maintained its position as Korea’s second-largest life insurance provider and overcome recent governance crisis. It will be worth paying attention to how Kyobo Life Insurance will continue its stakeholder-centered entrepreneurship and pursue shared growth with society going forward.

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