By Kwon Mee-yoo
KB Kookmin Card has launched a new type of card service aimed at providing individualized services and benefits.
KB Kookmin Card launched "Hyedam Card" Tuesday marking the first anniversary of the credit card firm's separation from Kookmin Bank.
The name of the card comes from Korean word "hyetaek," which means benefit. As the name indicates, the credit card allows its customers to choose the type of service, discount rate and amount as they wish.
"We expect this card will prevent the inconveniences of possessing several cards to receive the benefits of each card," a KB Kookmin Card spokesman said.
The card provides basic service as well as 12 kinds of lifestyle services of which customers can choose what they like. They can enjoy all the benefits with a single card and add or subtract services to tailor to their lifestyle needs.
Te basic service for all card users include 5-10 percent discounts in four sectors ― public transportation fees, communication expenses, necessities stores and tax or utility bills ― depending on the amount spent in the previous month.
The discretionary lifestyle service includes 12 categories such as gas, medical care, travel, beauty, car, shopping, dining, education, apartment maintenance, style, theater to airplane mileage. Customers can receive up to 30 percent discounts in selected areas based on their card usage.
The annual fee starts from 5,000 won for domestic use and 10,000 won for international use and adjusted to the service categories and the amount of benefits up to 60,000 won.
Each customer can choose how much discounts in which category they will receive and the annual fee changes according to the benefits selected.
For instance, one lifestyle category requires the basic fee and those who choose to add the shopping discount service will receive up to 10,000 won in discounts per month for an additional 5,000 won a year on top of the basic fee.
"Hyedam Card is designed to offer services and benefits optimized to the lifestyle and taste of each customer just in a card. This card will contribute to simplified and reasonable credit card use," the spokesman said.