diff --git a/backend/internal/bootstrap/kratos_seed.go b/backend/internal/bootstrap/kratos_seed.go
index 7ddb4a4c..c1130c65 100644
--- a/backend/internal/bootstrap/kratos_seed.go
+++ b/backend/internal/bootstrap/kratos_seed.go
@@ -5,19 +5,21 @@ import (
 	"log/slog"
 	"os"
 	"strings"
+	"time"
 )
 
 // SeedAdminIdentity creates the initial admin identity in the configured IDP.
-func SeedAdminIdentity(idp domain.IdentityProvider) error {
+// Returns the Kratos Identity ID and error.
+func SeedAdminIdentity(idp domain.IdentityProvider) (string, error) {
 	if idp == nil {
-		return nil
+		return "", nil
 	}
 
 	adminEmail := strings.TrimSpace(os.Getenv("ADMIN_EMAIL"))
 	adminPassword := os.Getenv("ADMIN_PASSWORD")
 	if adminEmail == "" || adminPassword == "" {
 		slog.Warn("[Bootstrap] ADMIN_EMAIL or ADMIN_PASSWORD not set. Skipping admin identity seed.")
-		return nil
+		return "", nil
 	}
 
 	adminName := strings.TrimSpace(os.Getenv("ADMIN_NAME"))
@@ -34,18 +36,41 @@ func SeedAdminIdentity(idp domain.IdentityProvider) error {
 			"affiliationType": "internal",
 			"companyCode":     "",
 			"grade":           "admin",
+			"role":            "super_admin", // Explicitly set role for Kratos traits
 		},
 	}
 
-	_, err := idp.CreateUser(user, adminPassword)
-	if err != nil {
-		if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "already exists") {
-			slog.Info("[Bootstrap] Admin identity already exists in IDP", "email", adminEmail)
-			return nil
+	// Retry logic for Kratos connection
+	maxRetries := 5
+	var err error
+	var identityID string
+
+	for i := 0; i < maxRetries; i++ {
+		identityID, err = idp.CreateUser(user, adminPassword)
+		if err == nil {
+			slog.Info("[Bootstrap] Admin identity created in IDP", "email", adminEmail, "idp", idp.Name(), "id", identityID)
+			return identityID, nil
 		}
-		return err
+
+		if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "already exists") {
+			slog.Info("[Bootstrap] Admin identity already exists in IDP. Attempting to retrieve ID...", "email", adminEmail)
+			// Try to sign in to get the identity ID
+			authInfo, err := idp.SignIn(adminEmail, adminPassword)
+			if err == nil && authInfo != nil {
+				slog.Info("[Bootstrap] Retrieved existing admin identity ID", "id", authInfo.Subject)
+				return authInfo.Subject, nil
+			}
+			slog.Warn("[Bootstrap] Failed to retrieve existing admin identity ID via SignIn", "error", err)
+			return "", nil // Return nil error to avoid stopping bootstrap, but ID is missing
+		}
+
+		slog.Warn("[Bootstrap] Failed to seed admin identity (retrying...)",
+			"attempt", i+1,
+			"max_retries", maxRetries,
+			"error", err,
+		)
+		time.Sleep(2 * time.Second)
 	}
 
-	slog.Info("[Bootstrap] Admin identity created in IDP", "email", adminEmail, "idp", idp.Name())
-	return nil
+	return "", err
 }