GS Retail Signs MOU with KT to Install 'Nanum Phone' in Convenience Stores

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] KT's 'Nanum Phone,' based on public telephones, will be launched at GS25.

GS Retail and KT signed a business agreement (MOU) for the 'Nanum Phone Joint Project' on the 27th at GS25 Banpo Serae Village store located in Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu.

With GS Retail's Executive Director Seong Chan-gan and KT's Executive Director Lee Seong-hwan in attendance, through this MOU, GS Retail will create a separate space called Nanum Zone within GS25 convenience stores, and KT will proceed with installing Nanum Phones in the Nanum Zone.

The Nanum Phone service allows free calls to over 30 public and welfare-related consultation centers such as the Integrated Welfare Call Center (129), Government Civil Service Center (110), Consumer Counseling (1372), Civil Complaint Service (120), and Cyber Terrorism Report (118). Regular calls are also available for a fee.

The first Nanum Phone was launched and began pilot operation at the GS25 Banpo Serae Village store, which signed the MOU. Starting with this first installation, the two companies plan to expand Nanum Phones to about 100 GS25 stores located in the metropolitan area by February next year.

By installing KT Nanum Phones, which support socially vulnerable groups, at GS25 stores that serve as social safety nets such as 'Child Safety Keeper,' 'Women Safety Keeper,' and 'Dementia Lighthouse Keeper,' the two companies expect to create significant synergy in further promoting social public interest.

Seong Chan-gan, Executive Director of GS Retail's MD Division, said, “As part of protecting socially vulnerable groups and promoting public interest, we have partnered with KT to promote this Nanum Phone joint project. GS Retail will do its best to practice social responsibility management by striving to build a social safety net through its nationwide 15,000 offline platforms.”

Lee Seong-hwan, Executive Director of KT's 5G/GiGA Business Division, said, “KT, which has worked to improve communication convenience for the public, and GS Retail, which has strived for daily convenience, jointly planned the Nanum Phone project. The two companies will continue to work together to carry out activities filled with kindness and warmth.”