Gwangju Shinsegae Eye Clinic Gains Attention for Helping 14 Active Duty Enlistments through LASIK Surgery

Jaebong Kim, Chief Director of Gwangju Shinsegae Eye Clinic

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Shinsegae Eye Clinic (Chief Director Kim Jae-bong) has gained attention by providing free surgery to 18 young men whose active military enlistment was delayed due to vision problems, and successfully enlisting 14 of them.

On January, Gwangju Shinsegae Eye Clinic performed free LASIK surgery on the 18th “Super Himchani” recipient, Jo Jae-young (22).

After recovering his eyesight, Jo is awaiting his enlistment date following a re-examination. Since the “Free Treatment Agreement for Voluntary Military Service Performers” with the Gwangju-Jeonnam Regional Military Manpower Administration in June 2016, the 15th Super Himchani is expected to be born after five years.

The Military Manpower Administration’s “Making Super Himchani Project” started in 2016 to foster a culture where military service is a source of pride.

This project connects young men who received a grade 4 (social service agent) or grade 5 (wartime labor service) due to vision, height, or weight during the military physical examination and wish to serve as active duty or social service agents, to affiliated support institutions for free treatment after an agreement with the Military Manpower Administration.

Since July 2016, Shinsegae Eye Clinic has supported free vision correction surgeries such as LASIK and LASEK for 18 people, starting with Choi Byung-hoon, who was graded 4, up to Jo who is about to enlist.

Among them, 14 have enlisted as active duty soldiers, and 4 are awaiting enlistment. This is the highest number of surgeries performed among eye clinics nationwide that support free treatment for Super Himchani, amounting to approximately 30 million KRW in value.

Kim Jae-bong, Chief Director of Shinsegae Eye Clinic, said, “We will do our best to help young men of my son’s age complete their military service healthily,” and added, “It would be great if the government could further activate such systems to create a culture where enlistment is a source of pride.”

Meanwhile, since its opening in 2009, Shinsegae Eye Clinic has ranked first in the “Korea Consumer Satisfaction Index” for five consecutive years from 2016 to 2020, introduced SMILE surgery for the first time in Gwangju, and has performed 40,000 procedures to date, establishing itself as a leading eye clinic in the Gwangju-Jeonnam region.

In particular, Director Kim Jae-bong received the National Medal from the Financial Services Commission in October last year for his continuous donations and steady volunteer work in presbyopia and cataract surgeries and treatments.

He is also recognized in the local community for his donations and volunteer work, including joining the 104th Honor Society by donating 100 million KRW to the Gwangju Community Chest of Korea.

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