Korean appointed as new risk director at World Bank Group

A South Korean national has been appointed to a senior risk management position at the World Bank Group (WBG), marking the fourth time a Korean has reached director level within the institution, the government said Sunday.

The Ministry of Finance and Economy said Min Jee-nah, 52, has been named director in charge of market and counterparty risk at the World Bank Group. She will assume the role on June 1.

Min currently works at the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), where she leads credit risk for public sector entities and reinsurance. In her new role, she will oversee market risks arising from the management of World Bank assets, as well as counterparty risks involving major financial institutions.

Before joining MIGA in 2017 as a senior credit risk officer, Min built her career at private financial institutions including Goldman Sachs. She has more than 20 years of experience in risk management and has headed MIGA’s public sector and reinsurance credit risk division since 2021.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Ewha Womans University and a master’s degree in business administration from Yonsei University.

Min’s appointment marks the first time since March last year that a Korean has held a director-level position at the World Bank Group. With her promotion, the number of Korean nationals in senior roles at the institution has increased to two, including one vice president and one director.

In July 2024, Kim Sang-bu became the first Korean to serve as a World Bank vice president, overseeing digital and artificial intelligence initiatives.

The ministry said it will continue efforts to expand opportunities for Korean nationals at international financial institutions, including through junior professional officer and mid-career programs as well as recruitment briefings.