Seoul School Meal Service Workers to Receive Lung Cancer Screenings Every Two Years Starting This Year

Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education signs work agreement with 19 partner hospitals including Kangbuk Samsung Hospital
Regular lung cancer screenings to be conducted every two years

Starting this year, school meal service workers in Seoul will receive regular lung cancer screenings every two years.

On the 5th, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced that it will promote the "Institutionalization of Lung Cancer Screenings for School Meal Service Workers" by signing a work agreement with 19 partner hospitals, including Kangbuk Samsung Hospital.

This agreement was prepared to build a systematic screening system that can prevent diseases such as lung cancer, which may occur in the working environment of meal service workers, and enable early detection and treatment.

From 2022 to 2025, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education conducted a "one-time lung cancer screening" for all meal service workers. Once lung cancer screening is institutionalized starting this year, approximately 6,470 meal service workers under the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education will receive lung cancer screenings every two years at 19 partner hospitals in Seoul, based on their year of birth.

Those who are found to have suspected lung cancer or other abnormal findings in the first screening may undergo a second, more detailed examination if they wish.

The entire process of lung cancer screening will be carried out through the Health and Safety Promotion Institute of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education and the partner hospitals. Through the institute, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education will monitor the health status of meal service workers via mobile questionnaires, connect eligible individuals to hospitals and provide financial support for screening costs, and manage screening results in an integrated manner. The partner hospitals will cooperate in the lung cancer screening process for school meal service workers by verifying eligibility of those to be examined, conducting the first low-dose chest CT scans, providing second detailed examinations for those with suspected lung cancer, and offering consultations and reports on the screening results.

Superintendent Jeong Geunsik said, "This agreement will serve as an opportunity to create safe workplaces for all workers," adding, "We will make greater efforts to create a healthy environment in which workers in schools can work with peace of mind."