KB Financial Group and the Ministry of Health and Welfare will expand nationwide care infrastructure and open a dedicated hotline to improve living conditions in communities, they said on March 29.

The extended night care programme is designed to protect children who face gaps in care during evening hours, including those in dual-income and single-parent households. In January, 343 sites were selected as participating institutions from about 5,500 village care facilities nationwide and operations began. Even if a child is not an existing user, families can apply up to 2 hours in advance and leave elementary school children aged 6 to 12 in care until 10 p.m. or midnight.

The hotline will operate from March 30. Callers will be automatically connected to a regional guidance centre, based on the caller’s location information, and can receive instructions on how to use the service and information on nearby participating institutions.

KB Financial will invest a total of 6 billion won over 3 years from 2026 to 2028. It will support improvements to participating care facilities, safe returns home at night and the operation of vehicles for pick-up and drop-off. It also plans to select participating institutions in a balanced way between the greater Seoul area and other regions to help narrow regional gaps in care.

It will also take part in building the Ministry of Education’s “On-dongne Care and Education Center” alongside the Health Ministry’s extended night care programme, expanding school-centred care into local communities.

A KB Financial official said, “By launching a dedicated hotline, we will improve convenience for families that need care and continue to strengthen the community-based care system.”