KB Financial Group said Thursday that it kicked off a two-day job fair in Incheon to resolve manpower shortages among small and mid-sized enterprises and provide jobseekers with opportunities.

The nation’s leading financial group ― in coordination with the Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry ― will host the event, dubbed “2011 KB Good Job Fair for SMEs,” until Friday at the Songdo Convensia in Incheon.

“Around 200 SMEs are participating in the event to recruit at least 1,000 newcomers,” a KB spokesman said. “More than 5,000 jobseekers including students are expected to visit the fair.”

Major figures who attended the opening ceremony included Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik, KB Financial president Lim Young-rok, KB Kookmin Bank president Min Byung-duk, KCCI Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik, and Incheon Mayor Song Young-gil.

Rhythmic gymnastics star Son Yeon-jae and actor Lee Seung-gi also participated in the event as KB Financial’s public relations models.

“KB Financial will continue to play a part to achieve the goal of co-development in our society,” group president Lim said.

KCCI chairman Sohn Kyung-shik said that the KCCI and KB Financial will continue to push for similar activities for job creation.

KB Financial has also been carrying out the job fair events via its website (kbgoodjob.incruit.com) since August.

The group said it will continue to operate the online career fair even after the two-day offline event in Incheon.

Under management policies of group chairman Euh Yoon-dae, KB Financial has been executing sustainable social contribution activities in with its flagship unit KB Kookmin Bank.

“We making efforts to lead the development of the financial industry and do its responsibility as a center of the nation’s economy,” a bank executive said.

He said that to realize the goal the group represents its originality by utilizing the capability and characteristics based upon the philosophy of social contributions to its neighbors.

The group places particular weight on a social contribution strategy of supporting young people’s education.

“We are making efforts to do the enterprise’s social responsibility through sustainable sharing to support the low-income bracket,” the executive said.

By Kim Yon-se (kys@heraldcorp.com)