Gangnam-gu, Pyeongtaek Target Medical Tourism Market for USFK Personnel

[Seoul District News] Gangnam-gu on the 15th ▲ Seoul National University Hospital Gangnam Center (Health Checkup) ▲ Gangnam CHA Hospital (Childbirth, Infertility) ▲ DM Dermatology Clinic (Anti-Aging Procedures) ▲ Cheongdam Yeoshin Plastic Surgery Clinic (Bariatric Surgery) Promotion Booth Operation, Selling ‘Military Sale’ Items with Over 30% Discount on 114 Medical Products Until January Next Year ... Yangcheon-gu Distributes ‘Haewoori’ Character Phone Holders to Residents Who Completed Additional Winter Vaccinations from the 12th ... Geumcheon-gu Holds the 5th Village Community Awards Ceremony ‘Ppom’ at Geumcheon-gu Office Auditorium at 7 PM on the 15th ... Eunpyeong

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gangnam-gu (Mayor Seongmyeong Jo) opened the ‘Gangnam Medical Tourism Promotion Center’ at the U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek (Camp Humphreys) on the 15th and is conducting a ‘Military Sale’ offering more than 30% discounts on 114 medical products until January next year.

This promotion center operation was planned to carry out customized medical tourism marketing targeting U.S. military personnel stationed in Korea and their families. While medical marketing activities targeting foreigners residing in Korea are illegal, exceptions apply to ▲U.S. military personnel and their families ▲staff and families of foreign diplomatic missions (embassies, consulates) and international organizations stationed in Korea.

The district plans to revitalize the medical tourism market, which has been depressed due to COVID-19, by developing products for these groups.

Considering that the medical institutions within the base mainly focus on internal medicine and there is high demand for specialized fields such as plastic surgery and dermatology, the promotion center was set up accordingly. Four local medical tourism partner institutions participate: ▲Seoul National University Hospital Gangnam Center (health checkups) ▲Gangnam CHA Hospital (childbirth, infertility) ▲DM Dermatology Clinic (anti-aging procedures) ▲Cheongdam Goddess Plastic Surgery Clinic (bariatric surgery). Through prior reservations, 1:1 medical consultations, partner medical institutions, and military sale products are offered on-site.

Thirty-seven partner medical institutions in the region participate in the ‘Military Sale,’ offering more than 30% discounts on 114 medical products such as bariatric surgery, vision correction surgery, and anti-aging dermatology procedures for U.S. military personnel in Pyeongtaek until January next year. Detailed information can be found on the Gangnam-gu medical tourism platform ‘Medical Gangnam.’

To actively promote patient attraction, advertisements are placed online and offline in Stars & Stripes, the U.S. Department of Defense newspaper. Additionally, promotional banners have been installed within the Pyeongtaek U.S. military base.

Seongmyeong Jo, Mayor of Gangnam-gu, said, “Gangnam-gu will continue its reputation as the number one medical tourism destination by pioneering the medical tourism market not only for overseas medical tourists but also for foreigners residing in Korea. We will strengthen global competitiveness in the medical tourism business through advanced promotional strategies such as the Medical Gangnam platform and online/offline patient consultation meetings.”

Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Gijae Lee) announced that starting from the 12th, it will distribute ‘Safe Vaccination Completion Grip Tok (phone stand)’ at Yangcheon Public Health Center and each community service center to residents who have completed vaccination, encouraging additional COVID-19 vaccinations during the winter season in preparation for the winter resurgence of COVID-19.

Reflecting residents’ requests for a mark indicating vaccination completion during the winter season, similar to the vaccination completion stickers distributed in the first half of the year, the district created a friendly grip tok (phone stand) using Yangcheon-gu’s official character ‘Haewoori.’ This aims to encourage COVID-19 vaccination and proactively respond to the spread of COVID-19.

Residents who have completed the additional winter vaccination can visit the health center or community service center with their ID, where staff will verify vaccination status and distribute the grip tok. The grip tok can be attached to the back of a phone to be used as a stand and can also be hung on a wall as a mask holder. However, since it is distributed for vaccination encouragement purposes, it should be noted that it is not an official proof of vaccination like the COOV application.

Winter COVID-19 vaccination is available for those aged 12 and older who have completed at least two doses (with the last dose at least 90 days prior). The vaccine used is a bivalent vaccine effective against the Omicron variant, known to be 3 to 4 times more effective than existing vaccines.

Especially, people aged 60 and older and those with vulnerable health conditions are prioritized for vaccination due to higher risks of severe illness and death. Since the intensive winter vaccination period lasts until December 31, same-day vaccination is possible after confirming vaccine availability at medical institutions.

Gijae Lee, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, said, “To encourage additional winter vaccinations, which are key to overcoming the winter resurgence of COVID-19, we are distributing phone stands that are highly useful in daily life to residents who have completed vaccination. Vaccination is the most effective measure to reduce severe illness and mortality, so we hope everyone actively participates.”

Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Seonghun Yoo) will hold the 5th Village Community Awards Ceremony ‘Ppom’ at 7 p.m. on the 15th in the Geumcheon-gu Office auditorium.

‘Ppom’ is a village community awards ceremony started with the purpose of ‘an award the village gives to its villagers.’

Under the theme ‘So the Village,’ this event was prepared to highlight and encourage residents who have worked hard to revitalize the village community while experiencing modern social disasters such as COVID-19.

At the event, awards will be given in six categories: ▲New Community ▲Community Growth ▲Village Community Space ▲Village Star ▲Grand Prize and Excellence Award, along with various resident celebratory performances such as folk songs and choir.

Additionally, diverse side events such as a Polaroid photo zone and lucky draw will be held for participants to enjoy together.

Despite difficulties in village activities due to COVID-19, the Geumcheon-gu village community has actively led community public interest activities addressing local social issues such as climate crisis response and village care by linking with related organizations online and offline, achieving significant qualitative growth.

Seonghun Yoo, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu, said, “I hope this event will empower village activists and serve as an opportunity to expand and strengthen the connections within the village community. We will actively support the growth of village communities and the spread of alley culture created by residents.”

Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Mikyung Kim) announced that starting from 2 p.m. on the 15th, it will distribute ‘SNS Pabal-i’ emoticons free of charge to the first 25,000 people on a first-come, first-served basis.

The SNS Pabal-i emoticons consist of works using existing characters that won in a resident contest. Since these emoticons were created by residents, they provide an opportunity to approach residents more familiarly.

The emoticons include images of ‘SNS Pabal-i’ along with messages such as ‘Hello,’ ‘Like,’ ‘Congratulations,’ and ‘Cheer up,’ making them easy to use in everyday conversations.

There are also emoticons featuring famous Eunpyeong-gu landmarks such as Bulgwangcheon Stream, Yeonsinnae, and Hanok Village, allowing users to feel the unique characteristics of Eunpyeong-gu.

The emoticons are distributed to new subscribers of the Eunpyeong Notification Talk channel and can be downloaded by adding the ‘Eunpyeong Notification Talk’ channel on the KakaoTalk app on smartphones. There are a total of 16 types, and the usage period is 30 days.

The district provides rich information about Eunpyeong-gu’s news through the Eunpyeong Notification Talk channel every Wednesday.

Mikyung Kim, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, said, “I hope the Pabal-i emoticons add a little fun to residents’ daily lives. We will continue to do our best to deliver good news through Eunpyeong Tomorrow News.”

◆Seoul Eunpyeong-gu ▲Planning and Budget Division Kim Heeryeong ▲Galhyeon 2-dong Chief So Byeongwoong ▲Audit Officer Yoo Kyungsook ▲Administrative Support Division Seo Yui ▲Welfare Policy Division Kim Munja ▲Finance Division Lee Taekho ▲Yeokchon-dong Chu Sugyeong

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