By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

Woori Bank, led by CEO Jung Jin-wan, opened a Polish branch in Warsaw, the capital of Poland, on March 31 as the first Korean bank to expand its strategic base in Europe.

Poland has served as a production base and logistics center in Europe, connecting both Eastern and Western Europe. In 2017, Woori Bank opened an office in Katowice, a southwestern industrial city with a large number of local subsidiaries of domestic companies, and has been providing financial support to these companies, including financing and brokerage services.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Korean Ambassador to Poland Lim Hoon-min, Lee Jung-hoon, head of the Warsaw Trade Center of Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), Ryu Hyung-jin, head of Woori Bank's Global Group, and other officials from domestic subsidiaries in Poland.

In particular, former Polish Ambassador to Korea Piotr Ostaszewski, who has been working hard to promote Korea-Poland cooperation and K-Defense, attended the event, adding to the significance of the branch's establishment.

In recent years, Poland has emerged as an outpost for post-war reconstruction in Ukraine, with the entry of K-defense, electric vehicles, and secondary battery companies.

Woori Bank began preparations for the establishment of a branch in late 2023 to quickly respond to the local financial needs of expanding domestic companies, and in July last year, it received approval from the Polish supervisory authorities to open a branch in April 2025, becoming the first Korean bank to open a branch in Warsaw.

Warsaw is home to many of Korea's leading defense companies, including Hanwha Aerospace, Hyundai Rotem, and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), as well as local subsidiaries of Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Hyundai Motor, and Kia Motors.

In addition, as the capital of Poland plays a central role in politics, economics, and finance, Woori Bank is expected to be able to secure a customer base across Poland much more efficiently.

With the opening of this branch in Poland, Woori Bank will have a third presence in Europe, in addition to its London branch, which serves as a foreign currency procurement center in Europe, and Woori Bank Europe in Frankfurt, which specializes in corporate finance.

The Polish branch will oversee operations in Eastern Europe, which includes Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, and other countries where the Korean-owned subsidiaries are present.

“It is very meaningful for us to be the first Korean bank to open a branch in Poland, one of the largest economies in Eastern Europe. This completes the 'Woori Bank Europe Triangle' connecting Germany (Woori Bank Europe), London (branch), and Poland,” said Lee Jung-woo, the head of Woori Bank Polish Branch. ”With Poland's geopolitical advantages and post-war reconstruction in Ukraine, many Korean companies are expected to enter the country, and we will be a reliable partner for Korean businesses.”