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Kim Jun-ki

Kim Jun-ki

K. Jun-ki
-0.06% | - $-2.00M
$3.21 B ₹ 29,225 Cr
Real Time Net Worth #1289 Ranking as of 21 Feb 2026 By Forbes

More on Kim Jun-ki

Gender

Male

Age

81Y

Country

South Korea

Born On

December, 1944

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Married

Children

2

Education

Korea University - Bachelor Of Arts In Economics

Designation Info :

Self-Made

Yes

Entrepreneur Type

Self-Made (Conglomerate)

Primary Organization

Dongbu Group

Titles

Founder & Chairman

Sources of Wealth

Dongbu Group

Industry

Diversified, Manufacturing, Finance

About Kim Jun-ki


K im Jun-ki is a South Korean businessman who founded and chairs the Dongbu Group, one of the country's major industrial conglomerates, or chaebols. He established the company, initially as a construction firm, in 1969 with just a small amount of capital and two employees. Through relentless drive and a series of strategic expansions, he built Dongbu into a diversified powerhouse with significant interests in steel, chemicals, insurance, and electronics.

Over the decades, Kim Jun-ki became known for his ambitious vision and his ability to enter and compete in capital-intensive industries. A key part of his empire was Dongbu HiTek, a specialized semiconductor manufacturer that became a significant global player in the foundry business. However, the group faced financial difficulties in the 2010s, forcing it to restructure and sell off several key assets. Despite these challenges, Kim retained control over a substantial part of the business, and his family remains a significant force in the Korean industrial landscape.

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Quick Reads


  • Founder and Chairman of South Korean conglomerate Dongbu Group.
  • Started the business as a construction company in 1969.
  • Expanded into steel, insurance, and semiconductors (Dongbu HiTek).
  • Forced to restructure the group due to financial struggles in the 2010s.
  • A graduate of Korea University with a degree in economics.

Early Life and Background


Kim Jun-ki is a South Korean businessman, the self-made billionaire Founder and former Executive of DB Group (Dongbu Group), a major conglomerate spanning insurance, financial services, and industrial manufacturing (semiconductors, steel). His career is rooted in elite engineering and industrial consolidation.

Kim graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in Civil Engineering and later earned a Master's degree in Management from Columbia University. His entrepreneurial journey began in 1969 with the founding of Miryung Construction (the precursor to the DB Group), recognizing the immense need for construction and industrial infrastructure in South Korea's rapid post-war rebuilding.

  • DB Group (Dongbu Group) (Founder & Former Executive): The core private asset, a massive conglomerate spanning financial services (DB Insurance), industrial manufacturing, and construction (revenue of $22.8 billion in 2023).
  • Industrial Focus: His success is built on scale manufacturing of industrial materials (steel) and consolidation in the financial services and insurance sectors.
  • Academic Background: He holds a Master's in Management from Columbia University and an Engineering degree from SNU.
  • Controversy: He was convicted for fraud and embezzlement in 2017 (later pardoned), leading to him stepping down from all executive roles in the DB Group.

Career Journey of Kim Jun-ki


Kim Jun-ki's strategic genius was his aggressive expansion into construction, industrial manufacturing, and financial services. Under his leadership, the DB Group grew into a major chaebol (conglomerate). His structural contribution is tied to his role in South Korea's massive industrialization and economic growth (in the 1970s and 1980s).

His career faced a major crisis in 2017 when he was convicted of fraud and embezzlement, leading to his stepping down from all executive roles in the DB Group (which was a condition of his subsequent presidential pardon in 2018). His family retains control of the multi-billion dollar empire, which continues to be a major force in the South Korean economy.

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Kim Jun-ki's Timeline


1969:

Founds Miryung Construction (precursor to DB Group) (Founding).

1980s:

The Group diversifies into industrial manufacturing and financial services (Strategic Diversification).

2017:

Convicted of fraud and embezzlement (Legal Crisis).

2018:

Stepped down from all executive roles (Executive Transition).

Ongoing:

Continues as Founder and major shareholder, managing his interests (Executive Oversight).

Major Business Ventures and Investments


Kim Jun-ki's wealth is concentrated in his founding equity and retained stake in the DB Group (Dongbu Group), primarily through its financial and industrial subsidiaries.

  • DB Group (Dongbu Group) (Founder & Former Executive): The core private asset, a massive conglomerate spanning financial services (DB Insurance), industrial manufacturing, and construction (revenue of $22.8 billion in 2023).
  • Industrial Focus: His success is built on scale manufacturing of industrial materials (steel) and consolidation in the financial services and insurance sectors.
  • Academic Background: He holds a Master's in Management from Columbia University and an Engineering degree from SNU.
  • Controversy: He was convicted for fraud and embezzlement in 2017 (later pardoned), leading to him stepping down from all executive roles in the DB Group.

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Philanthropy and Social Impact


Kim Jun-ki's social impact is structural, stemming from DB Group's role as a massive industrial employer and foundational provider of insurance and essential industrial materials. His companies contributed significantly to South Korea's rapid economic development.

His career is often cited for illustrating the high-stakes nature of chaebol governance and the legal scrutiny faced by executives in the South Korean corporate environment.

Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle


Kim Jun-ki maintains the professional, composed style of an industrial executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and stability, typical of a leader in the industrial and financial sectors.

Residing in Seoul, South Korea, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to financial stewardship, investment strategy, and the long-term legacy of the DB Group empire.

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Quotes and Philosophy


No publicly available quotes.

Fun Facts & Trivia


  • He is the founder of DB Group (formerly Dongbu Group) (insurance, industrial manufacturing).
  • He was convicted for fraud and embezzlement in 2017 (later pardoned).
  • He holds a Master's degree in Management from Columbia University and a degree in Civil Engineering from SNU.
  • He was Chairman and CEO of the massive chaebol.
  • DB Group operates DB Insurance and DB HiTek (semiconductors).
  • He stepped down from all executive roles in 2018 as a condition of his pardon.
  • His wealth is tied to the successful consolidation and globalization of South Korean industrial assets.

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Sources & References


This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:

  • Wealth Data: Real-time tracking and historical data from Forbes Billionaires and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
  • Biographical Records: Educational and career history sourced from Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and official university alumni directories.
  • Regulatory Filings: Shareholder and executive disclosures from stock exchange databases, including HKEX, SSE, SZSE, and SEC EDGAR.
  • Corporate History: Primary data from annual company reports, founding charters, and verified press announcements.

All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.

If you find any inaccuracies, please report them to admin@redcarpetlife.in

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