Seoul Financial Welfare Counseling Center - Yonsei University College of Dentistry and Hospital Provide Dentures and Dental Care to Financially Vulnerable Groups

Yonsei University College of Dentistry and Hospital Sign Business Agreement... Establish Systematic Welfare Linkage System and Actively Support Beneficiaries

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Welfare Foundation, in collaboration with Yonsei University College of Dentistry and Hospital, provides free dental treatments such as dentures, gum care, and extractions to financially vulnerable groups whose dental health has severely deteriorated due to malignant debt and who cannot afford treatment.

On the 16th, the Seoul Financial Welfare Counseling Center within the Seoul Welfare Foundation announced that it signed a business agreement with Yonsei University College of Dentistry and Hospital to support dental treatment for oral health improvement among financially vulnerable groups.

Since 2016, the center has connected welfare services through Yonsei University College of Dentistry and Hospital’s ‘Good Dentistry and Good People’ project to enable financially vulnerable individuals seeking debt counseling to receive dental treatment. So far, 11 people have received free dental care.

With this agreement, the center will establish a systematic welfare service linkage system for financially vulnerable groups and expand the scope of support. It will actively identify vulnerable individuals requiring dental treatment during the debt counseling process and coordinate treatment with Yonsei University College of Dentistry and Hospital. Notably, support extends not only to debtors but also to their children under 18 years old.

The support targets citizens who are basic livelihood security recipients or legally classified as near-poverty groups receiving debt counseling at the center and urgently need dental treatment. It covers treatments with high costs or requiring long-term care, such as denture fabrication, gum treatment, extractions, and root canal therapy.

Meanwhile, the Seoul Financial Welfare Counseling Center provides various financial welfare services to citizens suffering from household debt, including: ?‘Prevention of Malignant Debt Expansion’ through public financial counseling and financial education ?Support for public debt adjustment (personal bankruptcy, personal rehabilitation) to manage household debt scale ?Linkage to welfare services such as housing and employment to help citizens overcome debt and stand on their feet again.

Including the central center, there are 14 regional centers located in each autonomous district, such as City Hall, Seongdong, Mapo, Dobong, Geumcheon, Yeongdeungpo, Yangcheon, Songpa, Jungnang, Guro, Seongbuk, Gwanak, Nowon, and Gangnam. Each center has full-time financial welfare counselors composed of experts in finance, law, and social welfare.

Kim Eui-seong, Dean of Yonsei University College of Dentistry, said, “We are grateful to practice the mission and vision of Yonsei University College of Dentistry based on Christian spirit. Although these are difficult times due to COVID-19, we will strive to improve oral health for those in the blind spots of dental care.” Shim Joon-sung, Director of Yonsei University College of Dentistry Hospital, said, “We hope this business agreement will greatly help financially vulnerable groups who had difficulty receiving dental treatment. We will continue to spare no support for citizens.”