Government Employees Mutual Aid Association Holds Retirement-Planning Education in Daejeon: “Plan Your Assets, Health and Mindset After Retirement All at Once”

[Financial News] The Government Employees Mutual Aid Association held retirement-planning education in Daejeon for members in their 50s and addressed post-retirement asset management, health and mental well-being in one session. Starting in Seoul this year, the association has expanded the program to four cities—Daejeon, Gwangju and Daegu—broadening its contact points with members.
According to investment banking industry sources on the 12th, the Government Employees Mutual Aid Association completed its 2026 retirement-planning education program the previous day at Hotel Interciti in Daejeon. It was the second event following Seoul on the 4th, with 130 members in their 50s attending. The association increased the schedule from three events last year in Seoul, Busan and Daejeon to four this year.
The program began with an introduction to the mutual-aid system and included special lectures on mindset management by Kyungil Kim, a psychology professor at Ajou University; asset management by Kang Chang-hee, head of the Happiness 100-Year Asset Management Research Association; and health management by Shin Young-chul, director of medical services at Incheon Chamsarang Hospital. One-on-one consultation booths and a photo zone were also set up at the venue. The consultation booths provided information on mutual-aid products, including installment-paid retirement benefits and the Hanareum Lump-Sum Deposit, which members can continue using as special members after retirement.
The association’s increased focus on retirement-planning programs reflects changes in its membership. Since its establishment in 1975, the Government Employees Mutual Aid Association has expanded its membership base, primarily among local-government officials, and now has several hundred thousand members. The proportion of members aged 50 and older has continued to rise. Because choices involving lump-sum payments, reinvestment and conversion to pensions around retirement can determine members’ long-term asset returns, the association has concluded that advance education has become more important.
The core feature of the association’s products is their compound-interest structure. Contributions paid by members during their employment accumulate as retirement benefits, and if members choose installment payments instead of a lump-sum payment at retirement, interest continues to accrue on the remaining balance. The association explained that installment payments are advantageous when their interest rates remain competitive with bank deposits. It also emphasized that fixed-rate mutual-aid products become relatively more attractive when market interest rates decline.
The foundation of this payment capacity is investment performance. The Government Employees Mutual Aid Association has grown its assets to more than 20 trillion won by managing a portfolio spanning alternative investments, equities and bonds. Recently, it has focused on increasing the share of assets with stable cash flows, such as private credit and infrastructure, while managing its overseas real-estate exposure. Because investment returns are directly linked to members’ benefit rates, participants reportedly asked numerous questions about investment strategies during the education session.
Other mutual-aid associations are showing a similar trend. The Korean Teachers Credit Union, Military Mutual Aid Association and Korea Scientists & Engineers Mutual-aid Association (SEMA) have been holding retirement-planning lectures and asset-management seminars for members on a regular basis. These efforts go beyond simply selling financial products and seek to transform the organizations into comprehensive platforms managing members’ entire life cycles. An official at a pension fund said, "The competitiveness of mutual-aid associations ultimately rests on two pillars: long-term investment performance and members’ trust. Education and counseling are investments that strengthen the latter."
The Government Employees Mutual Aid Association plans to hold the remaining events in Gwangju and Daegu without disruption. It is also considering increasing the number of participants and host cities next year. Combining online lectures with regional counseling tours is another option under discussion to improve accessibility.
An official from the Government Employees Mutual Aid Association said, "The goal of the education is to help members face life after retirement with a concrete plan rather than vague anxiety. We will expand system guidance and asset-management counseling into ongoing channels to improve member satisfaction."
[email protected] Kang Gwi-gui Reporter