A large-scale medical service was held for residents at the Hanawon facility in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province, which has been operating as a settlement education center for North Korean defectors.
According to Hwacheon County, Coupang conducted a mobile health checkup program called 'Coupang On-Dongnae Care' on September 16 at the Hanawon Hwacheon branch in Gandeok-myeon.
About 600 participants included over 550 residents of Hwacheon County, including more than 200 children and teenagers, as well as 50 North Korean defectors.
More than 40 medical professionals from the Korean Medical Volunteer Corps, including doctors, dentists, and pharmacists, conducted blood tests, dental and oriental medicine consultations, and bone density tests. Dementia and depression screenings, as well as child growth and development assessments, were also performed.
'Coupang On-Dongnae Care' is a social contribution initiative aimed at providing health checkups in areas with declining populations where access to medical facilities is limited. The program began in April in Jeonbuk's Jangsu and has since expanded to include regions such as Chungbuk's Danyang, Gyeongbuk's Yeongdeok, and Jeonnam's Haenam.
This health checkup aligns with the movement to open the Hanawon facility to the local community.
The Ministry of Unification opened the second Hanawon in Gandeok-myeon, Hwacheon County, in 2012 to provide initial social adaptation education for male North Korean defectors and vocational and advanced education for settled defectors. Recently, as the number of defectors entering the country has decreased, the facility's educational functions have been reduced, prompting a transition to a space for both defectors and local residents.
On September 10, the Hwacheon branch and the Korean Medical Volunteer Corps signed a memorandum of understanding to promote health for both North Korean defectors and local residents. The two parties agreed to collaborate on health consultations, screenings, disease prevention education, and mobile medical services.
The timeline for opening the second Hanawon to residents has been delayed beyond initial expectations. According to the Ministry of Unification, the designation of the facility as a national security facility managed by the National Intelligence Service was lifted at the end of May, but the revision process for the Ministry of National Defense's designation of the facility as a national important facility continued until July.
Plans to convert the Hanawon-affiliated clinic into a general medical facility and expand its services to include local residents also require discussions with relevant authorities.
Hwacheon County anticipates that the second Hanawon will officially open to residents as early as October. The exact opening date, the facilities available, and the scope of services for residents will be clarified once the Ministry of Unification finalizes its operational plans.
Jang Young-cheol, executive director of Coupang's social contribution division, stated, "We will continue our efforts to address healthcare gaps in collaboration with the local community."
Kim Se-hoon, the mayor of Hwacheon County, remarked, "We will strengthen our cooperation with the second Hanawon to enhance the health and medical welfare of our residents."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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