Founding Idea

Founding Vision
To Foster creative culture, To promote Korea’s national culture, To further international cultural exchanges
The Daesan Foundation’s Purpose
The Daesan Foundation has been established under the auspices of Kyobo Life in accordance with the wishes of Daesan, Yong-Ho Shin, who founded the Kyobo Life Insurance Co., Ltd., to achieve the goal of 'promoting education in Korea and building up the nation's capital base'. By supporting projects of public interest intended to 'foster Korea's national culture' and 'globalize Korean literature' the Daesan Foundation aims to contribute actively to the development of Korea as cultural welfare state.
Founder Daesan, Yong-Ho SHIN
Yong Ho SHIN, the founder of Kyobo Life Insurance Co., Ltd., is the first person in the world to formulate the concept of "education insurance" (The honorific name Daesan meaning "Great Mountain")
Career
  • 1946. Founded Minji Munhwa Co., Ltd.
  • 1947.06 Founded Hankook Iron Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
  • 1955.08 President and C.E.O., Founded Kyobo Life Insurance Co., Ltd.
  • 1964.01 Chairman, Korea Life Insurance Association
  • 1967.05 Chairman, Kyobo Life Insurance Co., Ltd.
  • 1980.12 Founded Kyobo Book Centre
  • 1991.10 Founded The Daesan Foundation for Rural Culture and Society
  • 1992.12 Founded The Daesan Foundation
  • 1997.04 Founded The Kyobo Foundation for Education and Culture
  • 1997.07 Established 'The Shin Research Excellence Awards', International Insurance Society, Inc., U.S.A.
Honors
  • 1964.09 Presidential Citation on the 1st Saving Day, The Government of the Republic of Korea
  • 1969.09 Order of Civil Merit, The Government of the Republic of Korea
  • 1970.05 Insurance Culture Award, Korea Insurance Academic Society, Inc.
  • 1976.07 IAUP World Cultural Award, International Association of University Presidents
  • 1983.06 The Founder's Gold Medal, International Insurance Society, Inc.
  • 1983.10 Named Insurance Mentor, The University of Alabama, U.S.A.
  • 1994.10 Named Distinguished Honorary University Professor, The University of Alabama, U.S.A.
  • 1996.06 Top Management Prize for Business Foundation, Korean Academy of Business Historians
  • 1996.07 The Laureate of the Insurance Hall of Fame, International Insurance Society, Inc., U.S.A.
  • 1996.08 Order of Culture Merit, "Geum-Gwan", The Government of the Republic of Korea
  • 1996.12 Corporate Ethics Award, Yonsei University, Korea
  • 1999.09 Created a Chair of 'Founder Yong-Ho Shin's Economic Tought and Management Philosophy',
    Soongsil University, Korea
  • 2000.01 APO National Awards 2000, Asian Productivity Organization(APO)