Hana offers 'liberation' accounts
Hana Bank and Korea Exchange Bank have jointly launched a promotional event in which they will give a 1 gram gold ring to babies who were born on Aug. 15 of last year, if their parents open a time deposit account or an installment account called “Long Live the Great Korea” for them. / Courtesy of Hana Financial Group
By Kim Jae-won
Hana Bank and Korea Exchange Bank will jointly host an event for babies who turn a year old on Aug. 15 in commemorating the 70th Liberation Day.
The two banking affiliates of Hana Financial Group will give a 1 gram gold ring to babies who were born on Aug. 15 of last year if their parents open a time deposit account or an installment account for them called “Long Live the Great Korea.”
The idea grew from a Korean custom of presenting gold rings to babies on their first birthday.
“The ring will be given with a special case which will contain the ring and a bankbook. A congratulatory message will be included,” the banks said in a statement.
Parents can apply for the gift at branches of the two lenders by the end of July. They can get the gifts from Aug. 10 at the outlets where they applied.
“Long Live the Great Korea” is a financial product released by the two lenders to commemorate the 70th Liberation Day. Korea was set free from Japanese imperialism on Aug. 15, 1945 after being colonized by its neighboring country for 35 years.
The two banks said they will donate 815 won for each of the special accounts to the Ministry of Patriots and Veteran Affairs which will use the money for bereaved families of independence fighters and preserve heritage sites for independence activities.
Hana Bank CEO Kim Byung-ho and his KEB counterpart Kim Han-jo signed an agreement with Patriots and Veteran Affairs Minister Park Sung-choon to cooperate in the effort, at the Independence Hall of Korea in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, Monday.
The lenders said the “Long Live the Great Korea” product was initially launched in March to commemorate independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun, who assassinated Ito Hirobumi, a four-time Japanese prime minister at a train station in Harbin, China in 1909. Ahn shouted “Long live the Great Korea” after shooting the former resident-general of Korea.
“We will keep the history and pride of the Great Korea along with Korean citizens. We will lead patriotic activities in cooperation with the ministry,” the two CEOs said in a statement after signing the agreement.
With the signing, the two lenders said they will strengthen cooperation with the ministry in activities marking the 70th Liberation Day.