This blog post introduces the experiences bank intern applicants should emphasize in their cover letters and how to effectively convey them.
Growth Journey
“Overcoming My Own Limitations”
I have color blindness in one eye. It wasn’t present from birth; it resulted from an accident in my childhood when my older brother, playfully swinging an umbrella, accidentally poked my eye. Fortunately, my vision recovered, but my color perception did not. Because of that accident, I still cannot distinguish colors with one eye, and when viewing objects with both eyes, colors appear blurred or are perceived as entirely different shades.
At first, I thought ‘color blindness’ wouldn’t greatly impact daily life, but it brought more inconveniences than I expected. I struggled especially during activities like sports days or athletic meets where teams were distinguished by color. Restrictions on various outdoor activities also meant the sense of exclusion I felt as a boy was greater than I imagined. As a child, I struggled to understand why only I had to endure this hardship. Naturally, my relationship with my older brother, who was the cause of this condition, grew distant.
He was also young, and since it wasn’t intentional, I imagine the burden on his heart was heavy. Because our mutual feelings of guilt and hurt couldn’t be resolved through words, our conversations gradually dwindled, and the distance between us only grew. Rather than wanting to get closer to my brother, I think I might have deliberately built a wall around my heart.
But as time passed, I began to think that if this emotional state continued, the only two brothers we had might end up completely estranged. I also felt that no matter how successfully life unfolded, if relationships with family were broken, there could be no true happiness. So one day, I mustered the courage to speak to my brother first. “Back then, I was just messing around with you when it happened, but I know that must have been really hard on you too. I’m sorry I couldn’t avoid it that day, and sorry for acting so recklessly.” Hearing my carefully chosen words, my brother cried and hugged me tightly. Since that day, our bond has grown deeper than ever before.
Looking back now, that incident might have been a kind of trauma for me. But through that experience, I learned how to overcome hurt in relationships and find the courage to express my feelings. I realized that instead of avoiding or ignoring conflict with someone, conveying your true feelings is the first step toward healing the relationship. That’s how I rebuilt my bond with my brother, and since then, the two of us have grown together, cheering each other on and offering encouragement.
This experience was a crucial turning point in my life, a precious opportunity that matured my perspective and attitude toward human relationships.
Success and Failure
I have diligently engaged in various external activities so far, including being part of a press corps, a supporter group, a reporter, and filming. While the nature and methods of each activity differed, they all provided me with valuable experiences and insights. Among them, the most impactful theme was ‘leadership’.
My first external activity involved interviewing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and creating blog posts and videos based on those interviews. This activity was conducted in teams, where the team leader was responsible for coordination and progress. However, the leader at the time was preoccupied with preparing for transfer admissions and paid little attention to team activities. Consequently, our team members effectively had to take on the leader’s responsibilities. We had to communicate directly with the subjects we were covering, and schedule conflicts often led to missed interviews altogether. This experience made me keenly aware that a leader’s presence and role are not merely a title, but a core factor determining the success or failure of the entire team.
Since then, I’ve recognized the importance of a team leader in any activity and have been more cautious than anyone else when selecting one. Once a leader was chosen, I trusted and followed them unconditionally, actively cooperating to ensure activities ran smoothly. When I was younger, I naturally followed the words of seniors or superiors, but as I gained more experience and took on leadership roles myself, I always prioritized meetings and team activities above my own busy schedule. This was because I knew from experience how much a leader’s sense of responsibility and attitude can impact the entire team.
Especially during my supporter activities, I learned how to actively communicate with diverse people, understand each other, and show consideration. Relationships that felt awkward at first transformed into mutual trust through consistent communication and collaboration. Within that process, I learned not only how to lead people but also the attitude of serving them.
There were successful activities, and sometimes regrettable failures, but these experiences became valuable assets that went beyond mere external activities. They helped me understand the order within an organization and learn how to work with people. Through various external activities, I realized that a leader is not simply someone who takes the lead, but a balanced presence who pushes from behind and pulls from the front to move together.
A Moment I Wish I Could Return To
Life always presents moments of choice. Choosing one path naturally means letting go of another, leaving a lingering regret in the heart. Like the expression “the road not taken,” there is a moment in my life I wish I could revisit.
It was during my freshman year of university, when I was auditing philosophy classes. Though my major was business administration, I was deeply interested in the humanities and took philosophy courses. Through this, I became captivated by the depth of the humanities and decided to pursue a double major. A philosophy professor, impressed by an assignment I submitted in class, made me an unexpected proposal. Would I consider going to China with him to do volunteer work and write a book? The professor said he saw potential in how I was clearly setting life goals and moving toward them; it was an offer filled with that expectation.
I agonized over it for a long time. Had I chosen to go to China then, my life might have flowed in a completely different direction. But I felt I still lacked experience in the world at that time. Rather than diving straight into the world of theory and ideas, I wanted to go down that path after experiencing reality more deeply. Ultimately, I decided to abandon the trip to China and stay in Korea. To take responsibility for that choice, I resolved to live even more diligently. True to that resolve, I juggled three or four extracurricular activities per semester, living busier than anyone. Even on days off, rather than resting at home, I traveled to broaden my horizons and actively sought new experiences. Back then, I genuinely wanted to enjoy life.
But now, with time passed, I sometimes feel a pang of regret for not choosing that path. Thoughts like, ‘What would my life look like now if I had gone to China back then?’ occasionally cross my mind. Yet despite that regret, I don’t regret my choice at the time. Rather, thanks to that choice, I was able to add depth to a daily life that might otherwise have flowed by unremarkably, and fill my time more actively.
Everyone has moments they wish they could revisit. But rather than letting that point become a source of regret over my choice, I want to remember it as a meaningful crossroads that shaped who I am today. While the regret over the path not taken remains, it is precisely that regret that allows me to cherish who I am now even more.
Proposal for Establishing Corporate Status
“We must become a bank that benefits ordinary citizens more.”
While major investors are important, I believe the public’s perception ultimately shapes a company’s image. This is because the collective opinion formed by small investors like myself, who invest modest amounts, plays a crucial role in determining how the company is viewed. Especially in today’s era of rapid information flow and amplified public opinion, the influence of the masses can steer a company’s direction. In this context, I hope KB Kookmin Bank becomes a bank that truly reaches out to the people, living up to its name as the ‘bank of the people’. In other words, I believe it should be a bank where tangible benefits reach ordinary citizens.
The direction I propose focuses on savings accounts and check cards. These are likely the financial products citizens encounter most frequently in their daily lives. Therefore, I believe an approach centered on these two is most effective for bridging the gap with the public. For savings accounts, establish more diverse categories to provide tailored benefits suited to different situations: teenagers or students receiving allowance, young adults with part-time income, salaried workers receiving wages, and those receiving public funds like government subsidies or welfare benefits.
For instance, if public funds are deposited into an account, upon verification, benefits like fee waivers or discounts on automatic utility bill payments could be offered. For salaried workers, benefits such as point accumulation based on salary size, discounts on automatic transfers, or preferential interest rates on financial products could be considered. These benefits would transcend mere marketing tools, reflecting a financial approach that considers individual circumstances, thereby enhancing familiarity with and trust in Kookmin Bank.
Furthermore, for check cards, the scope of benefits should be broadened. Rather than limiting them to amusement parks, large restaurants, or franchise stores affiliated with large corporations, the focus should shift towards strengthening ties with places more closely tied to daily life, such as convenience stores, neighborhood supermarkets, and retailers of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) products. This approach not only provides tangible benefits to customers but also creates a win-win model that supports small and medium-sized businesses and the local economy. If KB Kookmin Bank takes the lead in creating such partnerships, it can take a step further beyond being a mere financial institution to become a company realizing social value.
Ultimately, only when benefits that citizens can directly experience in their daily lives increase, and when they feel financial products are closely connected to their lives, can it truly become worthy of the name ‘The People’s Bank’. A bank that listens to the voices of ordinary citizens and shares the weight of their lives. I sincerely hope KB Kookmin Bank moves in that direction.
Reason for Applying
“What KB Kookmin Bank means to me”
For me, KB Kookmin Bank is first and foremost associated with the word ‘university’. Our university campus has a KB Kookmin Bank branch, where they issue debit cards linked to student IDs. Holding that card for the first time made me truly feel, ‘Ah, I really am a university student now.’ That’s how my first financial journey began with KB Kookmin Bank, and this experience went beyond simply getting a card; it naturally became part of my daily life.
Next, KB Kookmin Bank came to mean ‘welfare’ to me. The various benefits available to me as a university student provided a small measure of freedom from financial burdens. Thanks to point accumulation and discount benefits, I could go to amusement parks with friends, watch movies, and create more relaxed and precious memories. I didn’t view these benefits merely as a means of consumption; I embraced them as small welfare benefits I could enjoy in my daily life.
Afterwards, I became interested in news about the various social contribution activities organized by KB Kookmin Bank, and sometimes participated directly. In particular, my experience volunteering at a children’s welfare center made me realize that KB Kookmin Bank goes beyond being a simple financial institution to practice sincere sharing. This experience allowed me to truly feel that the phrase ‘the people’s bank’ is not just a simple description, but represents a real value being realized.
For these reasons, when considering an internship, KB Kookmin Bank was my natural choice. I was eager to see firsthand how the systems and welfare I experienced daily were actually operated, and to contribute, however modestly, within that framework. I believe it’s now my turn to give back the benefits and experiences I’ve received. Of course, I still have many shortcomings and cannot guarantee I will excel at everything. However, building on the lessons gained from my experiences and extracurricular activities, I aspire to be a fresh yet diligent member of the team.
Just as KB Kookmin Bank has done for me, I want to become someone who can positively impact others. I wish to grow alongside KB Kookmin Bank, find fulfillment in meaningful work within it, and contribute to its success. If given this opportunity, I will wholeheartedly repay that trust. Thank you.
