Hyundai Card, the nation’s fourth-largest credit card operator, kicked off a project to help its retired employees set up a new business.

“Employees enjoy a number of benefits while they work for a company, but it is when they leave the company’s boundaries that they need professional help more than ever,” said a company spokesperson.

“Most retirees choose to open a business of their own, but less than 5 percent of them end up successful in the market.”

Due to this, the credit card company designed its CEO Plan, aiming to provide its incumbent and former employees with the help needed in creating their own business after retirement.

Hyundai Card will offer professional counseling and business start-up education to those chosen as candidates for the program. Once the trainee completes the basic courses, they can pick a business category and shop location, with the help of start-up training experts.

For instance, if the person opens a restaurant, Hyundai Card will offer support in designing the restaurant, selecting menus, educating employees and even promoting the restaurant through online and offline channels, officials explained.

The No. 1 beneficiary of the CEO Plan was Kim Hyung-geon, former employee at Hyundai Card’s headquarters. On Monday, Kim opened Maialino, an Italian restaurant specializing in pork dishes.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)