"No Simple Benefits, Embrace Scarcity and Fun"…Card Companies Targeting MZ Generation

Shinhan Card Launches PLCC Weverse Shinhan Card
Targeting Fandoms like BTS and Seventeen
BC Card Introduces Partnership Card with Web Variety Show 'Workman'

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] The card industry is launching various products targeting the tastes of the MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z). This is to capture the MZ generation, which has emerged as the main consumer group beyond just potential customers. There is a trend of adding rarity and fun to card benefits and increasing collectible value through diverse plate designs.

According to the card industry on the 14th, Shinhan Card released the co-branded credit card (PLCC) 'Weverse Shinhan Card' in collaboration with Weverse Company, a subsidiary of HYBE. This card is a product for artist fandoms registered on the global fan commerce platform Weverse Shop. It consists of four types of cards for four teams: BTS, Seventeen, Tomorrow X Together, and ENHYPEN.

In particular, the plate design incorporates holograms and other elements to include images symbolizing the artists and fandoms, enhancing rarity. A collectible photo plate featuring each artist's image is also provided as a basic benefit with the credit card. After issuance, the card is automatically registered for simple payment on Weverse Shop, and depending on the previous month's usage amount, credit card users can receive up to 70,000 KRW per month, and check card users up to 30,000 KRW per month in Weverse Shop cash.

Earlier, BC Card, which had launched a BLACKPINK card, introduced the industry's first new-concept credit card for office workers called the 'SiBal Card' in collaboration with the popular web variety show 'Workman.' This is BC's third self-issued card, and its design and benefits uniquely incorporate some features of Workman content. It offers billing discounts based on payment amount tiers when spending over 300,000 KRW in the previous month in five categories: ▲Hwatgim Taxi (taxi industry) ▲Coffee Transfusion (coffee shops) ▲Delivery Nyam Nyam (delivery industry) ▲Shopping Therapy (department stores, online malls) ▲Snack Raid (convenience stores).

To target the MZ generation, who value their individuality, fun elements and diverse plate designs are essential. Last month, KB Kookmin Card launched the KB Pay Challenge Card, a KB Pay-specialized product that introduced the concept of 'quests,' where customers earn points by completing certain tasks weekly, adding fun to card benefit accumulation. Design is also a key element expressing individuality. Hyundai Card has been attracting attention with unique card plate designs for some time. The Naver PLCC Naver Hyundai Card, released last month, was issued in six different designs and gained popularity with 25,000 cards issued within a week of business days. KB Kookmin Card recently established a 'multi-design process' to expand card design options, and Hana Card also offers a 'My Own Card Design' service through the Hana OneQ Pay application.

An industry official said, "To capture the MZ generation, which has emerged as a major consumer group, card companies are putting effort not only into collaborations with various industries but also into fun elements and design."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.