Green Hospital Established in Response to Korea's Largest Occupational Disease Case, the Wonjin Rayon Incident
Currently a Certified Industrial Accident Rehabilitation Hospital, Actively Supporting Injured Workers
'I'm coming to see you now!'
Paek Jonggil, Director of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service, visited patients at their bedsides. On the 25th, Director Paek visited Green Hospital in Seoul to meet industrial accident patients who have to spend the Chuseok holiday in the hospital. With gifts in hand, he offered comfort and encouragement to the patients.
On this day, Director Paek personally visited the ward, held each patient's hand, asked about their well-being, and listened attentively to their difficulties regarding treatment and rehabilitation. In particular, while visiting an industrial accident patient undergoing treatment due to the historic Wonjin Rayon incident, he expressed, "My heart is heavy knowing that many people are still suffering greatly even decades after shedding sweat in the workplace." He added, "Ahead of Chuseok, I hope this can bring at least a little warmth and comfort, and the Service will stand by you until the end."
Paek Jonggil, chairman of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service, visited Green Hospital in Seoul on the 25th to meet industrial accident patients who have to spend the Chuseok holiday at the hospital, delivering gifts and words of comfort.
The Wonjin Rayon incident refers to the largest occupational disease case in the history of industrial accidents in Korea, where workers at Wonjin Rayon were exposed to carbon disulfide over a long period, resulting in severe occupational diseases such as cerebrovascular disorders, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. This incident led to a comprehensive overhaul of the occupational disease system under industrial accident insurance. As consensus grew regarding the need for specialized treatment and rehabilitation hospitals for industrial accident workers, Green Hospital was established as a public-interest private hospital.
Green Hospital is currently certified as a rehabilitation hospital under industrial accident insurance, specializing in the treatment and rehabilitation of industrial accident workers. The hospital actively supports the recovery of health and return to work for industrial accident workers by conducting approximately 800 special examinations annually for musculoskeletal disorders related to work, as well as through research on occupational diseases and specialized rehabilitation treatment.
Paek Jonggil, Director of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service, stated, "We will do our utmost to realize the national responsibility system for industrial accident insurance by shortening the processing period for work-related diseases, improving recognition standards, introducing the national representative system, and gradually expanding industrial accident insurance to all citizens." He emphasized, "The Service will stand by industrial accident workers until the end, providing comprehensive care services from treatment to return to work, so that they can regain their healthy daily lives as before the accident."
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