LINA opens new chapter in charity

Korea to issue treasury bills next year to cover shortfalls

By Kang Seung-woo

Unlike old-school corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, simply seen as making donations, a large number of companies have recently taken advantage of their specialties in their charitable services.

LINA Korea has joined this trend, as the dental insurance specialist is active in helping the underprivileged in Korea receive dental treatment.

Teaming up with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and Seoul National University Dental Hospital, LINA Korea, the Korean business unit of global health service company CIGNA, has carried out dental care every month for multicultural families, single-parent families and grandparent families.

Since June 2010, they have visited six regions ― Yangju and Suwon in Gyeonggi Province, Sacheon and Gumi in South and North Gyeongsang Province, Gunsan in North Jeolla Province and Yangcheon-gu in Seoul. A total of 800 people from those regions have enjoyed the free dental services.

The patients range from foreign women in multicultural families who have never received dental treatment to a 70-year-old grandmother who defected from North Korea and had never had a dental scaling.

Along with a variety of treatments, the program educates them on how to prevent tooth-related diseases in advance. It includes how to brush teeth and the importance of a brushing habit, which are practical ways to protect teeth.

In addition, the life insurance company dispatches volunteers made up of its executives and employees to assist with the program.

“I am pleased that LINA Korea can participate in this significant activity,” LINA Korea CEO Benjamin Hong said.

“LINA Korea and I will provide a full-scale support to next year’s charity program to get beneficiaries more helps.”

“The six-month medical service played a key role in teaching the underprivileged the importance of dental health,” said Kim Myung-jin, president of Seoul National University Dental Hospital.

“With LINA Korea and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, we will continue to boost support for them.”

In LINA’s latest move, the insurer donated 100 million won to the Community Chest of Korea’s office in North Gyeongsang Province, which is expected to help up to 50 foreign females in the region receive dental treatment. Last year, 35 women took advantage of the company’s support.

In the end, LINA Korea’s full-scale effort for the underprivileged has paid off, as it claimed Forbes CSR Award, organized by Forbes Korea and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), in November.

LINA Korea entered the local market in 1987 as the first foreign life insurer.