KB Financial Group received the Excellent Value-Up Company Prize from the Deputy Prime Minister at the Value-Up Company Awards in recognition of its efforts and achievements in enhancing corporate value.
The ceremony was held at the Korea Exchange in Yeouido, Seoul, on May 27.
The Korea Exchange started holding the Value-Up Excellence Awards this year to encourage listed companies to participate in its value-up program.
The award was granted through a three-stage review process that included quantitative and qualitative evaluations based on value-up excellence award selection criteria.
The review process was conducted by external experts and advisors based on a quantitative evaluation of profitability, capital efficiency, and market evaluations, as well as a qualitative evaluation of public disclosures and efforts to enhance corporate value.
A comprehensive evaluation was conducted for the results of the first and second evaluations and performances.
KB Financial Group received high marks not only for quantitative indicators (TSR, PBR, ROE) but also for qualitative items, such as disclosure reliability (board participation and the reliability of its guideline system) and efforts to enhance corporate value (shareholder returns and market evaluations).
These high marks enabled the financial group to take home the prestigious Deputy Prime Minister’s Prize, which is given to the best companies.
Even before the implementation of the value-up program, KB Financial Group consistently promoted leading shareholder return policies, including being first in the Korean financial industry to implement share buybacks and cancellations, and introducing a quarterly equal dividend system based on total dividend amounts.
Following the implementation of the value-up program, it also became the first listed company in Korea to announce a corporate value enhancement plan in advance, and actively step up its efforts to enhance corporate value by announcing the Sustainable Value-Up Plan established in collaboration with its board of directors.
In particular, KB Financial Group’s Sustainable Value-Up Plan has received positive market evaluations for introducing a value-up framework which links CET1 ratios with shareholder returns, thereby enhancing the sustainability and predictability of shareholder returns.
To enhance the execution of its corporate value enhancement plan, KB Financial Group overhauled its overall management system, improved its corporate structure through RoRWA-centered qualitative growth, and faithfully implemented the corporate value enhancement plan which it promised to the market.
This process has been transparently disclosed and communicated through the announcement of the implementation of the corporate value enhancement plan, thereby solidifying trust from those in the market.
KB Financial Group’s efforts to enhance corporate value have been positively reflected in its stock price, with its PBR improving 0.65 times and its market capitalization jumping from 21.8 trillion won at the end of 2023 to 40.1 trillion won as of May 27, 2025.
“KB Financial Group’s corporate value enhancement plan aims to improve the financial group’s fundamental profitability while continuously increasing its shareholder value,” a KB Financial Group representative said.
“As a financial group that grows together with its shareholders, customers, and society, KB Financial Group will contribute to the spread of a value-enhancement culture.”
Economic and Financial Education for Navy Sailors
On May 21, the KB Financial Public Foundation of KB Financial Group conducted economic and financial education for Navy sailors at the Navy Support Battalion in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.
The KB Financial Public Foundation prepared this education program to help soldiers avoid or prevent financial frauds, acquire financial knowledge necessary for daily life, and prepare for independent economic life after their discharges.
The education program consisted of practical and realistic content, including the introduction of recent financial fraud cases and response methods and strategies for saving money during military service periods.
The lecture was conducted by Shin Hwa-young, a former compliance officer at KB Kookmin Bank who now works as a professional financial education specialist.
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