Incheon City Supports Health Checkup Costs for North Korean Defectors... Up to 300,000 KRW Per Person

Incheon City Hall

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City will provide comprehensive health checkup expenses of up to 300,000 KRW per person for North Korean defectors starting from the 1st of next month.

The support target is North Korean defectors aged 30 or older residing in Incheon, who can apply by visiting or calling the Incheon Hana Center by the end of October this year.

The comprehensive checkup can be received after scheduling and consultation at Incheon Medical Center. The medical expenses will be billed collectively from Incheon Medical Center to Incheon City.

The city previously signed a "Business Agreement for Health Support of North Korean Defectors" with Incheon Medical Center and Incheon Hana Center in September last year, agreeing to closely cooperate for professional and systematic health management of North Korean defectors.

According to the 2018 North-South Hana Foundation Social Integration Survey of North Korean Defectors, the regular health checkup rate of North Korean defectors was 61.6%, which is lower compared to 80.4% of the general population.

An official from Incheon City stated, "This comprehensive health checkup expense support project was initiated so that North Korean defectors can settle stably in the Incheon area based on a healthy life," and added, "We will continue to discover and support projects that are practically helpful to North Korean defectors without hesitation."