KB Financial Group signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) with Minister of Health and Welfare Jeong Eun-kyeong and KB Financial Group Chairman Yang Jong-hee in attendance at New KB Kookmin Bank Building in Yeouido of Seoul on Oct. 2.
The agreement was signed to support the MOHW’s “Extended Child Care Project,” following a series of recent tragic fire accidents that claimed the lives of children.
KB Financial Group and the MOHW will gradually extend the operating hours of some local children care centers to midnight, which were previously closed at 8 pm.
This project aims to reduce the gap in child care hours so children can remain safe, even when their parents are away, and to support parents who work at night so they can focus on their work with peace of mind.
This collaboration, where the Korean government and the private sector work together to address blind spots in child care, is expected to serve as an exemplary public-private partnership that will further strengthen Korea’s social safety net.
Through this agreement, KB Financial Group will provide a total of 6 billion won in support for the extended child care project over three years, from 2026 to 2028.
This budget will be used to improve infrastructure, including liability insurance for accidents when returning home at night, transportation to and from school, bedding, heating, and cooling equipment; and upgrade aging facilities.
Furthermore, this project will serve as a one-stop information system for parents and nighttime workers, and run burnout prevention programs for child care center workers.
“I hope that children left alone will be safe at night,” KB Chairman Yang said.
“I am grateful to be working with the MOHW. Through close collaboration between the public and private sectors, KB Financial Group will create a robust childcare safety net that allows nighttime workers and the self-employed to continue their work without worrying about their children.”
Meanwhile, KB Financial Group has been consistently providing on-site support to strengthen childcare.
Last year, to alleviate the burden of low birth rates on small business owners, the financial group collaborated with eight major local governments nationwide to support childcare services and replacement labor costs for those on parental leaves.
At schools, KB Financial Group supported the construction and expansion of elementary school after-school programs and the establishment of centralized child care centers.
KB Kookmin Bank, a key affiliate of the financial group, operates a variety of customized programs tailored to each child’s development stage from preschool to college, through its flagship social contribution project, “KB Dream Wave 2030,” focusing on learning, career development and infrastructure.
On-site Health Checkups for Delivery Workers
KB Financial Group held the On-site Health Check-up Event with the Korea Medical Institute (KMI) to create a healthy holiday season for motorcycle delivery workers at Hwajeong Station Plaza in Goyang City on Oct. 1.
Ahead of the Chuseok holiday season, KB Financial Group launched this support program to support delivery workers who face challenging working conditions and cannot afford to have the luxury of time to monitor their health.
The checkups were conducted for those who pre-registered at the Free Motorcycle Repair and Maintenance for the Second Half of the Year Event hosted by CES and the Korea Motorcycle Maintenance Association in Goyang City.
Key health check-up items included blood pressure measurements, blood tests, and a musculoskeletal symptom assessment.
Professional medical professionals from the Korea Medical Institute’s Medical Hub Center’s mobile screening team and a medical bus provided on-site health check-up services.
The entire health examination process was provided free of charge, garnering positive responses from participants.
“We hope this health checkup event will serve as an opportunity to spark people’s awareness of workers facing challenging work environments,” a KB Financial Group official said.
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