Myongji Hospital launches aid program for underserved migrants

Myongji Hospital has launched a new healthcare initiative to support migrants who face barriers to accessing timely medical treatment due to financial hardship.

The six-month program, running from July to December 2025, will provide direct aid for outpatient care, hospital admissions, and surgical expenses.

The project, titled the “2025 Migrant Medical Support Program for Medically Underserved Populations,” is a collaboration between Myongji Hospital and the Migrant Health Association in Korea We_Friends. The initiative will be funded by a 10 million won ($7,282) donation from the hospital’s internal charity fund, raised by its employees.

Under the program, outpatient treatment costs will be covered up to 700,000 won per person, while hospitalizations and surgeries can receive support of up to 2.5 million won. Migrants in need can apply through local migrant aid organizations, and final recipients will be selected based on a screening process conducted by WeFriends.

“The health of migrants is not just a welfare issue—it is a core component of the social safety net,” Myongji Hospital’s Public Healthcare Division Professor Shin Hyuk-jae said. “As a hospital that has long taken the lead in public healthcare, we will continue our efforts to eliminate blind spots in medical access and protect the health rights of vulnerable groups.”

Since establishing Korea’s first Public Healthcare Division within a private hospital in 2013, Myongji Hospital has conducted a range of outreach efforts for underserved populations. These include checkups for individuals with developmental disabilities, care for elderly patients living alone, health screenings for migrants, and rural mobile clinics.