Actors Lee Kwang-soo and Park Eun-bin received government commendations for helping promote a culture of saving and giving.
The Financial Services Commission (FSC) said on the 27th that it recognized 194 people at the 11th Financial Day ceremony, held at the Westin Josun Seoul in Jung-gu, Seoul. Lee Kwang-soo received a Prime Minister's Commendation for supporting pediatric patients' medical costs, providing relief supplies, donating his talents and practicing sound saving and investing. Park Eun-bin was selected for an FSC Chairman's Commendation in the saving and investment category. She was recognized for running social contribution campaigns with the financial industry and for continuing donation and volunteer activities for vulnerable groups together with her fan club.
Financial Day is a statutory commemorative day intended to raise public interest in finance and to encourage workers in the financial sector. Award recipients at this year's ceremony were selected across three categories: innovative finance, inclusive finance, and saving and investment. New commendations for shared growth and for expanding youth hiring were added this year. The Iron Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit, in the innovative finance category, went to Shin Hye-sook, a division head at the Korea Development Bank, while the Order of Civil Merit, Pomegranate Medal, in the inclusive finance category, went to Kang Bong-geun, a general manager at the Gyeongnam Credit Guarantee Foundation. Shin was credited with contributing to the development of advanced strategic industries through the operation of the National Growth Fund and the establishment of its support framework, while Kang was recognized for providing guarantees to low-credit borrowers and small merchants and for linking them to policy finance programs.
FSC Chairman Lee Eok-won said, "We will actively identify virtuous cycles in which finance builds the foundation of future industries, creates local jobs and, through social contribution projects, cares for the lives of neighbors in difficulty."