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Park Heung-seok, a 70-something who used to run a small business, has been asking his children to collect free 2025 calendars distributed by commercial banks after weeks of failing to get them on his own.

Park insists on having bank calendars whenever the New Year approaches, because of a long-held belief that using a new item from a place where money flows leads to fortune in the corresponding year.

"I am absolutely sure that my belief makes sense, considering that I've put bank calendars in my office for decades and was able to sustain my business before I voluntarily shut it down recently," he said.

Asked why he can't get free bank calendars on his own, Park speculated that he is possibly not on the list of most valued customers at a time when banks are printing out fewer calendars and giving them only to selected customers.

Park's case illustrates the uneven supply and demand of free bank calendars, as a number of customers still prefer using them while they are increasingly becoming scarce in the digital era.

A 2025 calendar of Suhyup Bank, the banking arm of the national fisheries cooperatives / Courtesy of Suhyup Bank

"The customers tend to be older adults who, due to their weak eyesight, find it more comfortable using paper calendars over digital calendars on their smartphones," a public relations staffer at KB Kookmin Bank said.

The staffer was referring to large-print wall calendars that are distributed mainly by the lenders. These calendars are noted for their large letters and numbers, as well as ample blank spaces which make them work as practical planners.

At the same time, the staffer said money-related superstitions, such as Park's belief, are behind customers' demand for bank calendars.

"It is not just older customers who look for these calendars," he said. "Even digital-savvy customers in their 20s or 30s want them as they are willing to make every possible effort to get rich."

The staffer said these customers also opt for free calendars distributed by other financial firms, such as brokerage houses and asset management firms, as well as highly profitable conglomerates in nonfinancial sectors.

The gap in supply and demand has resulted in sales of free bank calendars on secondhand markets.

On the online flea market platform Joonggonara, a KB Kookmin Bank calendar was up for sale at 5,000 won and a Korea Development Bank calendar was offered at 10,000 won.

Under the circumstances, industry sources said the banks are printing fewer calendars in line with environmental, social and corporate governance values, which emphasize eco-friendly marketing campaigns.

Hana Bank's 2025 calendar designed as a key ring / Courtesy of Hana Bank

The sources said the costly production of calendars also propelled the banks to reduce print orders. They noted the production cost has increased by 100 million won in recent years due to higher costs of raw materials and labor, even if banks reduce the total number of calendars by 30,000 to 40,000 every year.

In the meantime, some commercial banks are capitalizing on the popularity of nondigital calendars to enhance their marketing.

Hana Bank has introduced a calendar in the form of a key ring, which it calls "the world's smallest calendar." It is inspired by the Year of the Snake in 2025.

KB Kookmin Bank offers diaries for a limited number of customers through a lottery.