Choi Gi-jeong, former director general of audit at the Board of Audit and Inspection, was appointed the new standing auditor of Suhyup Bank. Choi, a graduate of the law school at Chung-Ang University, is known to have spent time together with President Lee Jae-myung, a fellow alumnus, during their college years. Choi is also known to be close friends with Park Sang-jin, chair of Korea Development Bank, who was Choi's classmate at the law school of Chung-Ang University.
On Mar. 26, according to reporting compiled by ChosunBiz, Suhyup Bank approved the appointment of Choi as auditor at a shareholders meeting on the 23rd. Choi began official duties on the 24th, the day immediately after the shareholders meeting.
Born in 1962 in South Chungcheong Province, Choi graduated from the law school at Chung-Ang University, passed the 34th bar exam, and completed the 24th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute. Entering public service thereafter, Choi served as director general of audit at the Board of Audit and Inspection and as head of the Audit and Inspection Research Institute, and worked as an adviser to SK Inc. Most recently, Choi was co-CEO of Dayton Co., Ltd., and an adjunct professor at the Graduate School of Industrial and Entrepreneurial Management at Chung-Ang University.
Earlier, Suhyup Bank shortlisted three people as final candidates for new standing auditor: Choi, Seo Jeong-bae, former standing auditor of Suhyup Bank, and Jeong Yeong-seong, former head of risk management at Suhyup Bank. Choi was the only external figure among the three.
Together with Chair Park Sang-jin, Choi fits the ruling camp's network keywords of "Chung-Ang University and legal circles." The three—President Lee, Chair Park, and Choi—are known to have shared close ties while attending Chung-Ang University. In age, Choi and Park are two years older than the president. For the bar exam, the president passed first in 1986, and Choi passed in 1992. Park gave up the bar exam and joined Korea Development Bank in 1990.
Known for a gentle disposition, Choi is said to have commanded deep trust even while in public office. Choi worked exclusively at the Board of Audit and Inspection, and there is speculation that, after gaining experience in finance at Suhyup Bank, Choi could later take key posts within the financial sector.