SKT Tackles Insomnia and Abdominal Obesity with Customized Genetic Analysis

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] Na Bulmyeon (pseudonym), a 34-year-old who usually has trouble sleeping, tried to go to bed at 11 p.m. for a 6 a.m. English class but tossed and turned until 1 a.m. before finally falling asleep. Feeling tired and worried about insomnia, Na signed up for a personalized health management service based on his genetic health information and underwent testing.

The test results showed that Na’s genetic risk for insomnia was surprisingly low, but his magnesium storage capacity, which affects sleep, was deficient. The results also indicated that the best time for him to be active during the day was in the evening rather than the morning when he had planned to take the class. Based on these results, Na changed his English class to the evening, received 1:1 professional counseling, was recommended mineral supplements beneficial for sleep, and improved his lifestyle habits, regaining vitality in his daily life.

SK Telecom announced on the 25th that it will expand the service items of 'Care8 DNA,' the nation’s first subscription-based genetic healthcare service launched last year, from the existing 29 items to more than 60, more than doubling the offerings.

Care8 DNA is a health coaching service based on direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing, first introduced in Korea last September by SK Telecom in collaboration with digital healthcare specialist Invites Healthcare and precision medicine biotechnology company Macrogen.

To provide enhanced personalized services, SK Telecom expanded the number of items that can be checked through Care8 DNA from 29 to 60 across six categories: nutrients, eating habits, exercise, health management, skin and hair, and personal traits. Newly added items include essential health management factors such as insomnia, yo-yo dieting potential, muscle development ability, degenerative arthritis symptoms, and abdominal obesity.

Care8 DNA supports 1:1 consultations with experts in various fields such as health coaches, nutritionists, and genetic analysis specialists based on genetic test results, and offers various dietary and exercise programs including challenge missions for health management.

Jang Hongseong, SK Telecom’s Chief Advertising and Data Officer, said, “Through the upgraded Care8 DNA genetic test, customers will experience a new level of healthcare. We will continue to leverage our ICT capabilities to protect customers’ health in a differentiated way and lead the digital healthcare service market.”

Care8 DNA users collect samples (saliva) using a test kit delivered to their homes and send them back. About two weeks later, they can check their genetic test results and personalized health coaching through the app.

To celebrate the upgrade of Care8 DNA, SKT will offer a discount event for one month from the 26th of this month to the 26th of next month. The current market price for the 60-item DTC test is about 350,000 KRW, but with the discount event, it can be used at a quarter of the price, 89,000 KRW (VAT included).

Care8 DNA is available to all SKT customers aged 19 and older, and existing Care8 DNA subscribers who have agreed to provide information can check results for all 60 items free of charge through the app without additional testing.

For detailed information and subscription to Care8 DNA, customers can visit the Tworld website and app or nearby SK Telecom stores. The Care8 DNA app can be installed from One Store, Google Play Store, and Apple App Store.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.