"Capture the MZ Generation" Card Companies and Game Companies Launch Successive PLCCs

[Asia Economy Reporter Yu Je-hoon] The card industry is engaging in 'cross-industry collaboration' with the gaming industry to target the core customer base, the MZ generation (born between the 1980s and 2000s).

According to the financial sector on the 30th, BC Card recently partnered with SmartGate RPG to launch the issuance of the private label credit card (PLCC) called the 'Lost Ark Card.' Lost Ark is a leading domestic massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by SmartGate RPG.

The Lost Ark Card is released in a total of eight designs featuring popular in-game characters favored by users. In particular, when users recharge the game currency called 'Royal Crystal,' which is required to purchase various paid products and items in the game, using the Lost Ark Card, they receive a 10% billing discount benefit (up to 25,000 KRW per month).

BC Card is not the only card company launching PLCCs in collaboration with game companies. Hyundai Card is also planning to release the 'Nexon PLCC' in the first half of this year in partnership with the game company Nexon Korea. It will include benefits optimized for Nexon game users and introduce 'Gamification,' which incorporates gaming mechanisms into financial services. This new marketing strategy offers bonuses when users complete missions during the card application and issuance process.

These moves by card companies are interpreted as efforts to increase touchpoints with the MZ generation, the main demand group for online games. They aim to create connections beyond online gaming into real life. Data sharing between card companies and game companies also appears to be a primary goal. Hyundai Card plans to enhance customer benefits by analyzing users' preferences and lifestyles derived from the gaming world, while Nexon intends to analyze offline consumption patterns of game users for business use.

A BC Card representative stated, "Through the Lost Ark Card, we hope adventurers experience seamless and satisfying payment services not only in the game but also in real life," adding, "We will continue to innovate customer experiences based on the data technology and active collaboration of both companies."

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