KB Financial Group Holds Briefing on KB Commercial District Revitalization Index

Chairman Yang Jong-hee of KB Financial Group. (Photos: KB Financial Group)

KB Financial Group held a briefing on the KB Commercial District Revitalization Index at the KB Kookmin Bank New Building in Seoul on April 3.

This index was jointly developed by KB Kookmin Bank, KB Kookmin Card, and Korea Data Bank to revitalize local economies and strengthen support for small business owners.

The KB Commercial District Revitalization Index is an analysis model that allows for a comprehensive examination of customer flows in commercial districts, the management status of small business owners, and changes in local commercial areas.

By linking and analyzing approximately 50 data points, including the nation’s top-tier financial data held by KB Financial Group, commercial district evaluation indicators, purchasing customer characteristics, sales patterns, and business opening/closing status, it enables a clear overview of the status of commercial districts by region at a glance.

At the briefing session, KB officials provided explanations about KB financial data, which was developed to meet the needs of local governments, public institutions, and private companies.

On April 3, KB Financial Group holds a briefing session on the KB Commercial District Revitalization Index’ at the KB Kookmin Bank New Building in Seoul.

Additionally, they introduced commercial district analysis services utilizing the “KB Commercial District Revitalization Index” (commercial district diagnosis, policy reference materials for revitalizing commercial districts, etc.) and actual commercial district analysis and application cases.

In particular, analysis results for local commercial districts designated as alley-type shopping streets showed through data that an influx of external customers was expanding through local gift certificates, leading to actual sales growth.

This drew much interest from officials of major local governments, regional credit guarantee foundations and representatives of private companies who attended the briefing.

This serves as an example demonstrating that the current Korean government’s local currency policies which aims to connect demand from outside the region into local commercial districts, can be an important means for balanced regional growth and the recovery of retailers and small restaurant owners.

Moving forward, KB Financial Group plans to further expand collaboration with local governments and public institutions to revitalize local economies and support small business ecosystems based on its accumulated data capabilities.

A nationwide telephone number will be established to allow convenient access to extended night care services jointly implemented by KB Financial Group and the MOHW.

Expanding Nationwide Child Care Infrastructure and Opening Consultation Hotline

KB Financial Group will open a nationwide phone number (1522-1318) to allow convenient access to extended night care services jointly with the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

The extended night care service was implemented to protect children who experience a care gap during evening hours due to reasons such as dual-income or single-parent families, in a safer environment.

Last January, 343 out of approximately 5,500 community care facilities nationwide were selected as participating institutions and their services began.

Even those who are not regular users of community care facilities can entrust their children aged 6–12 years old until 10pm or midnight if they apply at least two hours in advance.

KB Financial Group will provide a total of 6 billion won over three years from 2026 to 2028 to support environmental improvements at child care facilities participating in the project, support safe return home at night and the operation of vehicles for school for night care services.

The plan is to select and support participating institutions evenly not only in the Seoul metropolitan area but in the other areas, thereby contributing to an improvement in local living conditions by creating an environment where it is good to raise children anywhere in the country.

This nationwide child care phone number was established by reflecting ideas from several field meetings held since the project began.

Anyone can dial 1522-1318 without an area code, and they will be automatically connected to relevant local information centers (17 city/province support centers) based on their location information.

Parents can receive guidance on participating centers near their residence and how to use them with a single phone call without any complicated procedures.