BNK Kyongnam Bank donates 15,000 water bottles for outdoor workers amid record heat

BNK Kyongnam Bank has launched a bottled water donation drive for outdoor mobile workers as South Korea endures a record-breaking heat wave.

The bank donated 3,000 bottles of water to Changwon on Friday. Deputy President Heo Jong-gu visited Changwon City Hall that day and handed the donation to Jo Seong-hwan, director of the Economy and Jobs Bureau.

The water will be distributed to mobile worker rest shelters in Masan and Jinhae, where delivery couriers, parcel workers and designated drivers can use it to prevent heat-related illness.

Starting with Changwon, the bank plans to donate 3,000 bottles each to five municipalities — Ulsan, Gimhae, Jinju and Yangsan — for a total of 15,000 bottles.

"We hope mobile workers active outdoors can drink cool water whenever they need it, rest and work safely," Deputy President Heo said. "We will continue to practice inclusive finance as a steadfast partner alongside our communities."

Earlier, the bank donated energy vouchers worth 60 million won ($42,300) to Changwon on July 6, supporting 1,200 low-income households, and has converted all of its branches into cooling shelters during the heat wave.