KB Asset Management will continue for a second straight year a small business support programme aimed at helping families of firefighters killed in the line of duty become financially independent.

KB Asset Management said on Sunday it will run the RISE Hero Store programme for bereaved families who operate small businesses to mark Firefighters’ Day on Nov. 9. It will deliver a 20 million won donation to the Fire Family Hope Sharing Association to fund the programme.

RISE Hero Store is a corporate social responsibility programme linked to KB Asset Management’s exchange-traded fund (ETF) brand, RISE. It focuses on honouring fallen firefighters and supporting their families so they can continue their livelihoods in a stable way.

In the programme’s first year last year, it supported 3 households by helping pay for store renovations and items needed for operations for families running restaurants, hair salons and piano academies.

This year, it plans to select 2 households of bereaved family members who run small businesses based on recommendations from the National Fire Agency and fire agencies nationwide.

For the selected households, it will support workplace improvements, production of signboards and nameplates, and purchases of items needed for business operations. The programme will run for about 2 months.

KB Asset Management Chief Executive Young-sung Kim (김영성) said it will continue its social contribution activities based on the values of care and mutual growth.