Kim Jun-ki
Kim Jun-ki | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 4, 1944 Donghae, Gangwon Province, South Korea |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Founder of DB Group |
Kim Jun-ki (; born December 4, 1944) is a prominent South Korean entrepreneur and the founder of DB Group. As of December 2024, Forbes valued his fortune at approximately US$1.9 billion, placing him as the 18th wealthiest individual in South Korea.
Biography
Originating from Donghae in Gangwon Province, Kim is the eldest child in a family with significant political ties; his father held a political office. After completing his education at Kyunggi High School in 1964, he pursued economics at Korea University. Inspired by a visit to the United States in 1969, he discontinued his university studies to launch Miryung Construction (). During the 1970s, amid a surge in Middle Eastern construction projects, his firm became one of South Korea's top 30 construction companies. Building on this foundation, he strategically diversified into various sectors through acquisitions.
In 2009, Kim received a prison sentence related to unlawful stock trading but was granted a pardon the following year. Investigations into allegations of embezzlement connected to the Dongbu Daewoo Electronics takeover occurred in 2015; however, these inquiries concluded without any formal charges.
Kim was subject to a police investigation in 2018 following sexual harassment accusations made by his secretary dating back to 2017. During the investigation, he reportedly traveled abroad for medical reasons and failed to respond to police summonses; attempts to secure his return via Interpol were unsuccessful. He stepped down from his role as chairman in September 2017.
In 2024, shareholders of DB Group initiated legal action against Kim and his son, accusing them of receiving disproportionately high executive remuneration.
Personal life
Kim's spouse, Kim Jeong-hee (), is the daughter of Kim Sang-jun (), an executive at Samyang Salt. Their marriage was arranged, and they have two children: a son and a daughter. Their son, Kim Nam-ho (; born 1975), holds an executive position at DB Insurance and is viewed as the prospective successor to the company’s leadership. Their daughter, Kim Ju-won (), is married to Kim Ju-han (), whose father chairs Haedong Fire & Marine Insurance. The couple currently resides in the United States.