KB Financial Group will create a rest area at the National Fire Hospital for firefighters and their families and run psychological and emotional recovery support programmes.

KB Financial said on Aug. 12 it prepared welfare infrastructure and psychological and emotional programmes to support firefighters' treatment and recovery at the hospital's opening ceremony in Eumseong County, North Chungcheong Province, on Aug. 11.

The support project was led by KB Insurance, a KB Financial affiliate. KB Insurance created three rest areas called "People's Hero Shelter" inside the National Fire Hospital for firefighters and their families.

It also operated the "Ongi Mailbox" programme to support psychological and emotional recovery and delivered 600 "Recovery Cheer Kit" sets.

Attendees at the opening ceremony included President Lee Jae-myung (이재명), Interior and Safety Minister Yoon Ho-jung (윤호중), Choi Yong-cheol (최용철), acting commissioner general of the National Fire Agency, Baek Nam-jong (백남종), head of Seoul National University Hospital, National Fire Hospital head Kwak Young-ho (곽영호), and KB Insurance chief executive Gu Bon-wook (구본욱). The event included a donation handover ceremony and inspections of major facilities.

A KB Financial official said, "The National Fire Hospital will become another 119 that supports firefighters' treatment and recovery." The official added, "We will continue to expand the support system for firefighters and stand alongside those dedicated to public safety."