[DigitalToday reporter Ji-young Lee] KB Kookmin Bank will provide policy financing totalling 100 billion won for emergency medical institutions outside the Seoul metropolitan area.

KB Kookmin Bank said it will participate from Aug. 13 as a handling bank for the Ministry of Health and Welfare-led "2026 emergency medical institution loan programme".

The programme was 마련됐다 to ease management burdens at medical institutions outside the capital region and in areas vulnerable for emergency care, and to maintain local emergency care infrastructure in a stable manner.

The funding can be used to improve emergency room facilities, cover medical staff labour costs and refinance borrowings from financial institutions, among other purposes aimed at stabilising operations.

Eligible recipients include regional emergency medical centres and local emergency medical centres, as well as local emergency medical institutions outside the capital region selected by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. KB Kookmin Bank plans to conduct reviews through its nationwide branches and provide the policy funds.

Loan limits are up to 4 billion won for regional emergency medical centres, up to 2 billion won for local emergency medical centres, and up to 1 billion won for local emergency medical institutions.

The loan rate is a fixed 2 percent a year, while institutions located in areas vulnerable for emergency care will receive a fixed 1 percent a year. Repayment terms are a five-year grace period followed by 10 years of instalment repayments.

KB Kookmin Bank has also participated as a handling bank in a MERS-related loan programme in 2015 and a COVID-19-related loan programme in 2020.

A KB Kookmin Bank official said, "We will continue to contribute to stabilising local healthcare systems through various forms of financial support that can provide practical help on the medical front."