KB Financial Group Steps Up Support for Firefighters

Mental and Physical Relaxation Rooms for Firefighters
100 Locations Installed Nationwide by This Year
Scholarship Programs for Children of Fallen and Injured Firefighters
Special Credit Loan Programs Also Offered

A mental and physical relaxation room prepared for firefighters. Provided by KB Financial Group

With Firefighters Day approaching on November 9, KB Financial Group's various social contribution activities related to firefighting are drawing attention. This year, KB Financial Group has completed its 100th mental and physical relaxation room at 119 Safety Centers nationwide, and plans to expand scholarship and learning support, as well as preferential financial programs, for the families of firefighters who have died in the line of duty or have been injured.

According to KB Financial Group on November 7, KB Financial provided dust masks to firefighters in May this year to mark International Firefighters' Day. These dust masks play a crucial role in preventing occupational diseases among firefighters by effectively blocking smoke and harmful substances generated at fire scenes.

Its affiliate, KB Insurance, has also installed a total of 99 mental and physical relaxation rooms at 119 Safety Centers nationwide since 2016, helping firefighters relieve stress and tension experienced while on duty. This year, eight additional rooms have been installed, with plans to reach a total of 100 by the end of the year.

The mental and physical relaxation rooms transform previously underutilized spaces into rest areas equipped with massage chairs, bed-type massagers, and air-purifying plants. According to a survey conducted by the National Fire Agency, more than four out of ten firefighters report mental distress such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), making this an ongoing and practical social contribution project for the well-being of firefighters.

KB Financial Group is also continuing its support for the families of firefighters who have died or been injured in the line of duty. The KB Financial Public Interest Foundation has operated a scholarship program, providing a total of 1,258 million KRW to 682 children of such firefighters from 2012 through last year.

Starting this year, KB Insurance has taken over and launched the "Star Hero Champ" program, a one-on-one customized learning initiative for children of deceased or injured firefighters. The program matches 50 middle and high school students with outstanding university student volunteers to provide online video learning sessions.

In addition, KB Kookmin Bank, the group's core affiliate, operates a special credit loan program for firefighters and officials affiliated with the National Fire Agency, offering special limits and preferential interest rates. Many firefighters are taking advantage of this program.

In fact, positive feedback from firefighters continues. An official from the National Fire Agency stated, "In a recent satisfaction survey conducted after distributing dust masks to firefighters in the Gangwon region, the score reached 24.5 out of 25, indicating a very high level of satisfaction. KB Financial's support goes beyond simply providing equipment; it has become an opportunity for firefighters to further strengthen their sense of duty to protect the lives and property of the public."

A KB Financial Group representative said, "We will continue to expand various programs so that our support is not just temporary, but can be sustained and systematized over the long term."