This blog post introduces how KEB Hana Bank applicants can persuasively weave their financial philosophy into their application essays, based on investment experience and insights into exchange rate fluctuations.
Life Philosophy
My life philosophy was greatly influenced by my parents. They always told me: First, work hard at everything. Second, live with integrity. Third, strive to be the best. And finally, they often told me to succeed at all costs. These words aligned perfectly with my parents’ way of life, and I naturally absorbed these values growing up. So, I always tried to work hard wherever I was and strive to be sincere in everything I did.
However, as time passed, I gradually began to feel that my parents’ teachings had not only positive aspects but also burdensome ones. My parents always gave their utmost, but they also lived under immense pressure themselves. I often saw them sighing while comparing our family to others, lamenting “We still don’t have enough assets” or “Our house is too small.” Even regarding my grades, if I brought home a 95, they would express disappointment, asking “Why not a perfect score?” While striving for the best was certainly motivating, at some point it made me focus only on what was lacking, and the 95% happiness I had already achieved often seemed overlooked.
As these experiences accumulated, I gradually developed a new perspective. And from a certain day onward, my outlook on life could be summed up in one phrase: “That’s just how it is.”
No matter how hard you try, you can’t always get 100 points. Sometimes your results match your effort, but other days, despite your hard work, the outcome falls short of expectations. Life is like that – some days you might get 90 points, other days only 50. So instead of focusing on the missing 10 points, I choose to be grateful for the 90 points I earned. Even if the result is only 50 points, I try to see it as containing 50 points worth of effort and meaning.
This perspective is an attitude that respects my effort for what it is, and at the same time, it’s a way to reassure myself that it’s okay not to be perfect. Whatever the outcome, if I did my best, I decided to give myself the leeway to say, “Well, that’s how it goes.” Since changing my mindset this way, I’ve been able to view life with a much more relaxed and abundant perspective. I’m learning to live without rushing, accepting myself as I am.
School Days
“Financial hardship and dedication to studies”
My parents were people who always lived with integrity. They worked so hard, sometimes to the point of harming their health, and that image resonated deeply with me as a child. There was a clear reason for their relentless struggle. Around the time I entered high school, our family’s financial situation took a severe turn for the worse. My mother had unwisely guaranteed a loan for a close relative, resulting in significant financial loss. That single mistake caused my parents to lose the family fortune they had built together over many years in an instant.
After losing that large sum, my parents sank into despair. I often witnessed them feeling depressed or arguing with each other. The relative who had taken the loan became credit-unworthy and was in no position to help, leaving our family to shoulder the entire debt burden. We had to struggle day by day just to cover the deficit, not the surplus, and that weight became a huge burden not only for my parents but also for me. The more difficult things got, the more my parents urged me to focus on my studies, and they themselves threw themselves into work much more intensely than before. Seeing my parents’ backs like that, I too became determined to help the family somehow, throwing myself into my studies.
Going through that period, I naturally grasped the importance of credit and asset management earlier than my peers. That’s why I chose to major in Economics. After entering university, I took finance-related courses and began preparing with the goal of early employment. From my first year, I consistently worked part-time jobs to cover tuition while also giving my best effort academically to secure scholarships. By my sophomore year, I started job-hunting study groups ahead of my peers, strategically preparing to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation.
Looking back, that period was undoubtedly tough and overwhelming. Yet, through it all, I learned urgency and responsibility. Witnessing my parents’ sweat and sacrifice firsthand also changed my perspective on life. All those experiences became the foundation that shaped who I am today, and I believe they will continue to serve as my unwavering compass.
Hobbies and Special Skills
I have a knack for financial management and stock investing. My interest in economics and finance led me to study these fields, naturally building my knowledge of wealth management along the way. This experience taught me that how you manage money is more important than simply accumulating it. During my university years, I joined a stock investment club and began serious activities. I also used funds saved from part-time jobs for direct investments. Initially approaching it with a learner’s mindset, I discovered an unexpected interest and aptitude, gradually enabling me to pursue systematic investment activities.
As a result, within just two years of starting my investment studies, I achieved a return rate exceeding 150%, ranking as the student with the highest return rate within the club. The key to this success was thorough data collection and analysis based on it. Rather than relying on luck or intuition, I meticulously examined corporate financial statements, market trends, and economic news, adopting a strategic approach that proved highly effective. As his stock investment skills grew, he earned enough profit to cover his own tuition, and juniors frequently asked him to teach them about stocks.
Furthermore, he didn’t just spend the profits from stock investments; he practiced wealth management in various ways by simultaneously reinvesting and saving. I saved with small cooperative banks rather than conventional banks to secure higher interest rates, reliably recovering both principal and interest. I also actively utilized funds and insurance products to manage my assets. These experiences allowed me to lead a more practical and strategic college life than most, naturally gaining confidence and know-how in wealth management.
Even now, I consistently monitor financial trends, study new investment techniques, and broaden my perspective. Recognizing that wealth management requires long-term vision and continuous learning rather than short-term gains, I intend to maintain this interest and further develop my capabilities. These experiences are more than just a hobby; they are valuable assets that profoundly shaped my life attitude and economic mindset.
Challenge Experience
“A Year in Japan: A Time of Challenge and Its Outcomes”
During my college years, I had the unique opportunity to live in Japan for a year. It was more than just a language study program; it was a personal challenge. My father’s overseas assignment took me to Japan, and rather than simply accompanying him, I decided to take a leave of absence to create a meaningful time for myself. I believed what I gained would depend on how actively I pursued it, so I set two goals. One was to learn Japanese, and the other was to gain work experience locally.
To master Japanese, I first focused on making local friends. I believed language is best learned naturally through people. Through an educational program, I naturally became close with peers my age. We often hung out after class, spending a lot of time together. Together, we planned trips, and sometimes I acted as their guide, exploring various regions of Japan. This broadened my understanding of Japanese culture and lifestyle, gradually dissolving the preconceptions I once held. Especially valuable was a short homestay at a friend’s house, which allowed me to experience Japanese home environments, family culture, and daily life up close. This was an invaluable experience that books or lectures could never provide.
Traveling through various Japanese cities, I was deeply impressed by the tidy streets and the meticulous way of life I hadn’t known before. Encountering the unvarnished reality of people’s daily lives, rather than just tourist spots, fostered a warmer perspective on Japan as a country. After finishing my travels, I began seeking opportunities to work locally to make my Japanese experience more multidimensional. Coincidentally, a bank was recruiting temporary part-time staff, and I was able to secure a position handling auxiliary tasks.
At the bank, I primarily handled relatively simple tasks like guiding customers through the queue system, issuing ticket numbers, managing ATM machines, and assisting clients. Yet, even within these straightforward duties, I gained a tangible sense of the importance and responsibility of customer service. I felt firsthand how financial institutions operate on a foundation of trust. Especially, guiding customers to the right counter for their needs or swiftly addressing issues taught me the essence of customer-centric service. This experience also taught me that the banking systems in Korea and Japan are fundamentally not that different, and I realized that ‘how you work’ is more important than ‘where you work’.
Thus, my year in Japan was a precious time that gave me opportunities for growth in language, culture, and job responsibilities, going beyond a simple stay. This experience broadened my perspective and attitude, instilling confidence in my ability to adapt flexibly and proactively in any environment. I am certain it will serve as a solid foundation for growing into a financial professional who earns customer trust and delivers differentiated services. At your company, I will leverage this experience to realize customer-centric values in specialized areas like foreign exchange and derivatives, diligently fulfilling my assigned responsibilities.
