Shinhan Card opens library at Army NCO Academy in Iksan

Shinhan Card announced Friday that it has opened an "Areumin Library" at the Army NCO Academy for military personnel and their families.

The opening ceremony was held Wednesday at the Army NCO Academy in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, with key attendees including Im Guk-gi, superintendent of the Army NCO Academy; Lee Jeong-bin, head of Shinhan Card's management planning group; Na Il-heum, head of Shinhan Bank's Honam Western regional headquarters; and Kim Hyo-seung, standing director of the Children and Future Foundation.

Shinhan Card has been building Areumin Libraries inside military bases since 2019 to promote a reading culture and self-development among service members. The latest opening marks the eighth such library, following installations at seven units including the Army 1st Corps, Army Capital Corps, 1st Infantry Division and Marine Corps Headquarters.

The new library at the Army NCO Academy was designed to reflect the evolving barracks environment — including digital devices — while also addressing demand for cultural space among unit members and their children, making it a multipurpose cultural venue accessible to families.

In addition, Shinhan Card said it will go beyond a one-time installation by providing new books and managing the collection on an ongoing basis, with the aim of making the Areumin Library a cultural retreat woven into the daily lives of service members and their families.

Another library is set to open later this month at the Army's 12th Infantry Division in Inje-gun, Gangwon Province, and the company is also reviewing expansion to other military bases in the second half of the year.

Meanwhile, Shinhan Card held a meeting with Army Headquarters in April to discuss expanding financial and cultural welfare benefits for military personnel.

In line with that effort, the company is working to provide service members with a range of financial, welfare and cultural benefits by leveraging synergies across Shinhan Financial Group, beyond the library construction program.

Together with Shinhan Bank, Shinhan Card is participating in the third phase of the Narasarang Card project and issuing the Shinhan Narasarang Card. Shinhan Bank's Iksan Financial Center is also supporting newly commissioned noncommissioned officers with tailored financial services and education, and the company is reviewing plans to build a financial lounge on campus. The Narasarang Card offers benefits including 20 percent cashback at military PX stores, up to 20 percent cashback on everyday purchases, and automatic enrollment in five major membership programs upon issuance. There is no annual fee.

"We hope the Areumin Library — a core corporate social responsibility project for Shinhan Card — will not only support reading and cultural spaces but also contribute to building a family-friendly and healthy welfare environment for the military," a Shinhan Card official said.