Yi Whan-woo is a Korea Times journalist primarily covering finance. He writes in-depth articles on macroeconomy and financial markets and previously covered sports, politics, diplomacy and inter-Korean affairs, among others. Feel free to contact him at yistory@koreatimes.co.kr.
Insurance agent for deaf customers
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Kim Ji-eun
By Yi Whan-woo
By Yi Whan-woo
Kim Ji-eun says she hates to be portrayed as the champion for deaf and partially deaf customers in the non-life insurance industry.
However, the Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance financial planner said Thursday that since she joined the industry in 2007, regulations for people with such disabilities have improved.
“I realized that it’s crucial for people in this profession to be able to use the sign language in order to provide quality service to deaf and partially deaf customers. That’s how I landed this job,” Kim, 47, said over the phone.
Kim said she first learned sign language in 1985 out of personal interest. Over time, however, she learned the importance of providing support for those who are hard of hearing.
She quit her job as a primary school teacher at a private education institute in Incheon to focus on helping deaf and partially deaf people.
“I was a full-time member of the Korea Association of the Deaf (KAD) from 2002 to 2005, during which I met many people with complete and partial hearing loss who needed our help,” she said.
“The association provides interpretation services for people with such disabilities when they are involved in car accidents, go to hospitals and find themselves in other types of situations where they need help communicating with people who are not deaf.”
According to Kim, she was often been asked to use her skills even after she left the KAD. For example, one of her cousins, a Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance salesman, called her whenever he needs to communicate with his deaf and partially deaf customers.
“I had difficulty understanding insurance terminology, so I decided to work at the company to learn about the industry and become a better interpreter,” she said.
The top-ranked Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance is the first market player to provide medical assistance to customers with such disabilities for serious illnesses.
According to Kim, most other non-life insurance companies have since followed suit. This trend was made possible by the joint effort of Kim and the KAD.
“I thought it was unfair to deny such benefit to people with such disabilities, so I and the KAD brought the issue to the National Human Rights Commission in 2008,” she said.
“My company accepted the legally non-binding recommendation made by the human rights watchdog that year, and other companies have since adopted the practice.
“Later in 2009, I consulted with my boss at the firm’s branch office in Incheon about providing our deaf and partially deaf customers assistance in receiving medical treatment for serious injuries,” she said.
“The officials at the firm’s headquarters accepted our request, and the firm is now the country’s first market player to provide such service.”