SNU Dental Hospital Receives Presidential Citation for Providing Free Treatment for Multicultural Families

The Director of the Seoul National University Dental Hospital (SNUDH), Heo Sang Joo, has received a presidential citation for the hospital's free clinics for members of multicultural families.

The hospital was also distinguished for providing help to multicultural families to settle down in the country.

Based on an article from the Korea Times, the hospital has been going all over the country nine times a year and operating medical centers for free since 2010. SNUDH has run the free clinics for 57 times as of today and has treated more than 7,000 patients for free.

The awards ceremony was held at a hotel in Daegu on Monday during an assembly of members of multicultural families in South Korea.

During the said event, Heo told the reporters, "We began the free clinics to help multicultural families live in Korea with stability. This award means a great deal to me and to the entire staff of the hospital who have fulfilled their responsibilities."

Heo became the director of the hospital on July 29 this year and received the award on behalf of the hospital. He was also the one responsible for creating the project for the free treatment six years ago and managed the project until 2013. During that time, he was the one in charge of a planning and cooperation office at the hospital.

Heo added, "The Seoul National University Dental Hospital has offered free treatment to the vulnerable such as the disabled and senior citizens who live alone, but there was no program for members of multicultural families. So I began the project after consultation with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family."

He also mentioned that he a local life insurance unit of U.S. insurance company Cigna, Lina Korea, for assistance.

There are about 20 medical staff who take part in the project and stay in Seoul and its nearby areas for one day, and stay for three days when they visit rural areas.