Coupang takes free health clinic to civilian control zone, surpassing 2,500 cumulative checkups

Sixth event held in Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi Province, drawing about 300 residents

Coupang Inc said Wednesday it held a mobile health screening event in Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi Province, at the Jeongok-eup Community Welfare Center gymnasium and at the Hoengsan-ri village hall inside the civilian control zone. The outreach was part of the company's traveling health checkup initiative, "Coupang Ondongne Care." Gyeonggi Province, Yeoncheon-gun and the Korean Central Medical Volunteer Association co-hosted the event.

At the Jeongok-eup center, about 300 residents received consultations in internal medicine, neurosurgery, psychiatry, dentistry and traditional Korean medicine. Screenings included blood pressure and blood sugar measurements, blood tests, bone density checks, dementia and depression screenings, and AI-assisted child development assessments, all tailored to participants' ages and health conditions. Treatment and prescription medication were also provided based on the results.

In the afternoon, the team visited the Hoengsan-ri village hall, home to about 20 households, to examine and treat residents. Yeoncheon-gun is a depopulating county where people 65 and older account for about 35 percent of the registered population, according to Ministry of Interior and Safety data as of the end of September. Hoengsan-ri in particular faces geographic constraints that limit access and movement, making it difficult for residents to reach medical facilities.

More than 40 medical professionals from the Korean Central Medical Volunteer Association — including physicians, dentists, pharmacists and traditional medicine practitioners — took part in the event. A mobile portrait studio was also set up, offering residents printed keepsake photos. Coupang Inc Executive Vice President Jang Young-cheol attended alongside Yeoncheon-gun Council Chairman Park Young-cheol, acting Yeoncheon-gun Health and Medical Center Director Yu In-soon and Korean Central Medical Volunteer Association President Lee Eun-woo.

"Coupang Ondongne Care" is a corporate social responsibility program that provides free health screenings and medical consultations in areas with limited healthcare infrastructure. Launched in April in Jangsu-gun, North Jeolla Province, the program has since been held across six locations: Danyang-gun in North Chungcheong Province, Yeongdeok-gun in North Gyeongsang Province, Haenam-gun in South Jeolla Province, Hwacheon-gun in Gangwon Province and Yeoncheon-gun in Gyeonggi Province. The team also visited Haenam's Ttangkkeut Village and the Second Hana Center in Hwacheon. Cumulative participation has surpassed 2,500 residents.

"We will continue to listen to voices from the field and work to ensure more residents can access the medical services they need," a Coupang Inc corporate social responsibility official said.

andy@heraldcorp.com