KB Financial Group said on Feb. 13 it will intensively inspect security response systems and customer services at key affiliates during the Lunar New Year holiday so customers can use financial services with peace of mind. The checks cover major affiliates’ IT computing centres, call centres and care facilities, including the group’s integrated security monitoring centre.

The special site inspections will take place with participation by key affiliate executives, including KB Financial Chairman Yang Jong-hee (양종희), KB Kookmin Bank CEO Lee Hwan-joo (이환주), KB Securities co-CEOs Lee Hong-gu (이홍구) and Kang Jin-doo (강진두), KB Insurance CEO Koo Bon-wook (구본욱), KB Kookmin Card CEO Kim Jae-kwan (김재관) and KB Life CEO Jung Moon-chul (정문철).

Yang will first visit KB Kookmin Bank’s Yeouido computing centre in Seoul. He will personally review the status of security monitoring, encourage staff on site and inspect preparedness systems to prevent security incidents.

In the special inspection, Yang plans to check an immediate inter-affiliate information-sharing system in the event of an emergency, a manual for initial response within 5 minutes when an attack is detected, and the operating status of the disaster recovery (DR) system. As smishing texts impersonating the Lunar New Year holiday are rampant, he also plans to instruct the issuance of a company-wide alert and the preparation of response measures to minimise customer 피해.

Lee will visit the Gimpo IT centre to inspect the integrated infrastructure monitoring and control room. KB Securities co-CEOs Lee and Kang plan to review the overseas stock desk and IT monitoring system at The K Tower in Yeouido, as well as digital sales services (M-able, Global BK).

Koo will visit KB Insurance’s CNS Boramae centre to inspect call-centre operations during the holiday. Kim will visit Cheonggye IT Tower to inspect IT and security monitoring systems, and Jung will visit KB Golden Life Care to monitor residents and the overall status of facility operations.

The inspections were arranged to preemptively block cyber threats targeting the holiday period and ensure there are no disruptions in customer service. They come as tension has risen across the financial sector amid a string of attempted cyberattacks targeting major financial firms.

Ahead of the inspection, Yang said, "Trust, a core value of finance, begins with perfect security and protection of customer assets." He added, "Even if you succeed in 99 defences, a single breach can destroy all trust, so do not exclude even a 0.1 percent possibility." He urged maintaining a watertight security posture so customers can use financial services safely and without inconvenience during the Lunar New Year holiday.

A KB Financial official said, "Security is the most basic and important responsibility in keeping our promise to customers." The official added, "Based on a systematic security system, KB Financial will focus all of the group’s capabilities on creating a model case for financial-sector security and safely protecting customer assets."