The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs will provide free health checkups to about 10,000 national veterans and their families in partnership with the Korea Association of Health Promotion, the ministry said Wednesday, marking June as the Month of Patriots and Veterans.
The free health checkup program for national veterans is a flagship welfare initiative launched in 2002 through a memorandum of understanding with the Korea Association of Health Promotion. Designed to honor the dedication and sacrifice of national merit holders and support their healthy lives, the program has provided checkups to approximately 146,000 people through last year.
Advance reservations can be made starting Wednesday by phone through 17 regional branches of the Korea Association of Health Promotion.
Eligible recipients include independence patriots, persons of national merit, recipients of veterans compensation, May 18 democracy patriots, special mission patriots, Agent Orange aftereffect patients, and war veterans, along with their spouses and direct family members within one degree of kinship. For independence patriots, grandchildren are also included. Applicants must be at least 20 years old.
The checkups will be conducted over two months from June to July at 17 regional branches of the Korea Association of Health Promotion nationwide, covering about 10,000 people. Participants must bring their national veteran registration card or a merit holder verification document on the day of their checkup.
Each checkup, valued at approximately 180,000 won ($130), offers a comprehensive examination consisting of 67 items across 16 categories, including basic physical measurements, blood and urine tests, liver function, diabetes, kidney function, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease, and cancer-related screenings.
The Korea Association of Health Promotion will fully cover the costs, and the program operates separately from the general health checkups provided by the National Health Insurance Service.
"This health checkup program is part of our efforts to ensure a healthy and peaceful later life for veterans' families who have dedicated themselves to the nation," Minister Kwon Oh-eul said.
