Korea MDRT Association holds 2026 First Timer Festival for new members

The Korea MDRT Association hosted the 2026 First Timer Festival on May 6 at Fortress Hall on the first floor of Militopia Hotel by Marine in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. A total of 123 new members of MDRT — the Million Dollar Round Table, an international organization of financial and insurance professionals — attended to learn about the group's operating philosophy and activities.

MDRT is an international organization open to financial and insurance professionals who meet a set performance threshold. It promotes knowledge sharing and networking among members based on client-centered values and a commitment to ethical practice.

According to the Korea MDRT Association, the number of first-timer members this year rose approximately 5.39 percent from the previous year, with 47 new registrants bringing the total to 918.

The event featured an introduction to the MDRT Annual Meeting scheduled for Anaheim in 2026, along with new member introductions, lectures by senior members and a mentoring program.

The festival opened with remarks by Korea MDRT Association President Nam Su-kyung. Kim Ri-won and Kim So-yun of Kyobo Life and Chu Seon-young of KB Life Partners, all representing first-timer members, then shared their experiences achieving MDRT qualification and their reflections on the process.

A round-table program reflecting the "Round Table" spirit of MDRT was also held, with existing mentor members seated at each table to offer congratulations, present commemorative gifts and engage in open conversation with new members.

A dedicated mentor-mentee session was also part of the program. Seventeen existing lifetime members serving as mentors fielded questions from new members and shared their experience and practical knowledge of MDRT activities.

The lecture session featured three speakers: Choi Sang-won, Ju Hun and Ahn Jae-hee. Choi, a 26-year MDRT member, spoke on the organization's history and core values. Ju shared practical experience and case studies from a long-term growth perspective, while Ahn discussed her early experiences with MDRT and her plans for future involvement.

Meanwhile, association statistics released alongside the event showed that the share of first-timer members among total membership climbed from 20.78 percent in 2022 to 31.75 percent in 2025, before registering 29.70 percent in the 2026 regular statistics.

The association said its membership base has been expanding in recent years and that it continues to run education programs and member support activities.

Nam Su-kyung, the 24th president of the Korea MDRT Association, said the First Timer Festival gave new MDRT members a chance to exchange information with one another and reflect on their direction as professionals. "We plan to continue running member exchange and education programs going forward," she said.