– Gyeonggi Association of Foreign-Invested Companies to Conclude an MOU with Good Morning Hospital in Pyeongtaek

On August 8, 2008, the Gyeonggi Association of Foreign-invested Companies (“GAFIC”), which is located in the Hyeongok Industrial Complex of Pyeongtaek City, Gyeonggi Province, will conclude an MOU with Good Morning Hospital, located in Hapjeong-dong of Pyeongtaek City. The MOU aims to provide greater convenience in healthcare delivery to the foreign employees of foreign-invested companies who have previously voiced concerns about difficulties in using healthcare services due to language barriers. GAFIC selected Good Morning Hospital since it is preferred by employees of foreign-invested companies in Pyeongtaek.

The MOU signing ceremony between GAFIC and Good Morning Hospital will be held in the Conference Room of Good Morning Hospital, and will be attended by officials from the Economic Investment Management Office of Gyeonggi Province, the Business & Economy Department of Pyeongtaek City, Good Morning Hospital, and executives of GAFIC.

The signing ceremony will feature a hospital briefing delivered by Good Morning Hospital as well as a presentation on GAFIC and will be followed by interviews and a tour of major hospital facilities.

Officials from GAFIC and Gyeonggi Province visited the hospital on August 2 to discuss the issue of multilingual healthcare delivery. The hospital agreed to introduce a dedicated help desk and launch Japanese, English, and Chinese services. The hospital has already appointed a coordinator who will provide English support, and is holding interviews to recruit a Japanese coordinator.

GAFIC Chairman Lim Byeong-hoon said, “Although foreign-invested companies employ a large number of foreign employees, it is difficult for these companies to hire dedicated healthcare experts to respond to possible healthcare issues. This agreement ensures that the foreign employees of foreign-invested firms will now be able to conveniently access healthcare services and fully enjoy Korea’s advanced healthcare technology.”

Good Morning Hospital Administrative Director Oh Jung-keun said, “We plan to build a stable environment for medical support by gradually improving our multilingual services rather than expecting speedy feedback from foreign employees.”

Along with the multilingual medical support, GAFIC has provided residential support to create a comfortable living environment for foreign employees. Foreign employees have often encountered inconveniences such as receiving emergency notices regarding power interruptions or water supply suspension at apartment buildings that are written only in Korean. GAFIC reached an agreement with apartment management offices for the translation of such notices into English. Since GAFIC communicated its efforts to improve convenience for foreign residents employed by foreign companies, it has had a rush of requests from foreign-invested firms wishing to resolve issues regarding their employees’ apartment buildings.

GAFIC Director General Kim Yong-moon said, “We aim to provide the workers of foreign-invested companies with a comfortable living environment. We will continuously accept suggestions and keenly address the needs of foreign employees.”