The Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK) plans to launch on social media platform Cyworld Z’s metaverse. Other major banks in South Korea such as KB Kookmin, NH Nonghyup and Hana Bank plan moves toward the metaverse as well.
Fast facts
- IBK announced yesterday its memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Cyworld Z. Cyworld Z is a renewed version of Cyworld, which was one of the first and most popular social media platforms in South Korea in the 2000s, and is set to launch in December. The social media platform serviced its own virtual currency “Dotori,” which means acorn in Korean. IBK aims to set up an IBK Dotori Bank on the metaverse, which will launch financial products streamlined for Cyworld Z users. One such product is a bankbook for Dotori, which will reward users according to the amount of Dotori they purchase.
- NH Nonghyup Bank targets March next year to launch “NH Dokdo-verse,” which is a metaverse replica of Dokdo Island. It plans to bring clients closer to the island, which is difficult to travel to in real life. Visitors of the Dokdo-verse will be able to play games such as fishing and buy properties on the island. NH Nonghyup Bank has been actively promoting Dokdo Island, a territory under South Korean control, which was challenged by Japan for many years.
- KB Kookmin Bank is also looking to open a virtual branch office in the metaverse. It tested earlier this year the possibility of the metaverse as a main channel for its financial services. KB also said it is going to experiment with online game platform Roblox. Hana Bank has also constructed a task force for digital innovation, which includes the metaverse.