[Sponsored Report] KB Financial continues to support community

KB Financial Group CEO Lim Young-rok serves samgyetang, traditional chicken soup with ginseng, to the elderly at a welfare center. Provided by the company

Despite its recent internal and external difficulties, KB Financial Group continues its social contribution activities. CEO Lim Young-rok insists that the shared growth of the corporation and community should carry on, the situation of the company notwithstanding.

The CEO made no exceptions for himself and attended a ceremony that awarded medical support for low-income families held on May 20, the day after issues on changing the bank’s operating system broke out. He also participated in the reopening ceremony for a children’s soup kitchen, which the group sponsored when the company was under sanctions review.

Lim also asked KB employees to contribute ideas that could benefit the company and community. One of those ideas was KB Good Loan, a special loan alternative for people who cannot take out loans from the bank because of their poor credit ratings. The loan gives the borrower the lowest interest rate from KB Savings Bank. The bank will benefit from an increasing amount of clients, which they can manage with their knowledge and experience, and the clients will benefit from the low interest rate from a bank they can trust.

Another example of shared growth is the group’s economy and finance education program for the youth. Since 2011, the group has provided an economy and finance lecture to teenagers all around Korea. Current employees and retired individuals participate in the program to educate students on a variety of topics. The instructors play games with students to help them understand complicated concepts. KB hopes the program will give its potential clients a good impression of its outreach programs.

Moreover, each of KB’s 25,000 employees take part in its volunteer groups such as Speed Dream Volunteer Group, which provides fast relief to disaster-struck areas, Talent Dream Volunteer Group, which focuses on education-related projects, and KB Star Dream Volunteer Group, a volunteer body that consists of 1,200 different social responsibility projects. Last year, total community service of the workers added up to 340,000 hours, about 13 hours per person.

This year, KB Financial Group has been focusing on young people and seniors as part of their contribution projects. Its various activities are designed to provide a better environment for all community members, but especially for children and the elderly.

The group’s priority is to provide education programs for teenagers and children. In addition to its economy and finance lecture, the group gives 100 musically talented students the opportunity to attend classes offered by universities that participate in the program. On July 29, KB sponsored a performance in which students were given the opportunity to perform on stage.

KB is also concerned with taking care of the elderly. Last month, the group distributed summer care packages to 2,000 senior citizens who live alone. The package included an electric fan, thin bed covers, summer pajamas and mosquito repellents. Kim Yu-na, a star figure skater, and Lim, CEO of KB Financial Group, helped to put together aid packages at SETEC in Daechi-dong, southern Seoul, on July 2. The boxes were delivered to the elders through social welfare centers in each region.

On July 28, KB served samgyetang, traditional chicken soup with ginseng, in Seoul Senior Welfare Center in Jongno District celebrating Jungbok, one of the hottest days of the summer. KB workers and the CEO, as well as Kim Young-jong, head of Jongno District Office, participated in serving lunch for 700 elders. The group also delivered the soup to 100 elders who have a hard time getting around.

“We plan to expand our social contribution activities and reach out to more youth and seniors,” said a KB Financial Group official.

By Kim Young-shin [yskim11@joongang.co.kr]