Shinhan Financial Group said on Thursday it will significantly expand support for the 'Just Dream' project, which it is jointly 추진 with the Ministry of Health and Welfare to help guarantee people's basic access to food, providing a total of 10 billion won over three years.

Shinhan Financial originally planned to provide 4.5 billion won over three years under a business agreement it signed with the ministry in November last year. It more than doubled the amount as satisfaction in the field remained high and the need to expand the project grew.

'Just Dream' is a community-based programme that provides food and daily necessities unconditionally to people who have difficulty covering meals immediately. It is currently being piloted at 107 locations across 67 cities, counties and districts nationwide, and the additional funding is expected to speed up its expansion nationwide.

Shinhan Financial also operates 'Ttaenggyeoyo Shared Growth Stores', which provides subsidies to small business owners to help address meal deprivation in local communities. It has shared food with about 25,000 people through 370 social welfare facilities nationwide so far, supporting vulnerable groups while also promoting the local economy.

Jin Ok-dong (진옥동), chairman of Shinhan Financial, said guaranteeing basic access to food is directly linked to improving the quality of life for vulnerable groups, and the group quickly decided on additional support in step with government policy. He said Shinhan Financial will continue to strengthen public-private cooperation based on responsible management and will take close care of neighbours in difficulty through 'In a Moment of Crisis, Together With Shinhan', a programme supporting families in crisis, and take the lead in addressing welfare blind spots.