Gyeongsan Family Health Month
- Gyeongsan, South Korea – Gyeongsan Mayor Cho Hyun-il announced a city-wide initiative to promote national health checkups and cancer screenings throughout May.
- In 2025, national health checkups are available to South Korean citizens age 20 and older.
- The city also offers six national cancer screenings – gastric,liver,colon,breast,cervical,and lung cancer – to eligible residents.
Gyeongsan Promotes National Health and Cancer Screenings
Table of Contents
- Gyeongsan Promotes National Health and Cancer Screenings
- Gyeongsan Health Initiative: Your Questions Answered
- What is Gyeongsan City doing too promote health?
- What are National Health Checkups?
- What Cancer Screenings are Offered in Gyeongsan?
- Why is Early Detection of Cancer So Important?
- What is the Cancer Incidence in Gyeongsan?
- Are There Financial Benefits for Cancer Patients in Gyeongsan?
- How is Gyeongsan Encouraging Participation in Screenings?
- What Are the national Cancer Screening Guidelines?
Gyeongsan, South Korea – Gyeongsan Mayor Cho Hyun-il announced a city-wide initiative to promote national health checkups and cancer screenings throughout May. The campaign, themed ”Precious Family Health and National Health Checkup,” aims to encourage residents to prioritize their well-being and that of their families.
National Health Checkups
In 2025, national health checkups are available to South Korean citizens age 20 and older. These screenings include tests for early detection of chronic diseases. common tests include blood pressure, blood sugar, and urinalysis, as well as screenings for abnormal lipidemia, hepatitis, and mental health issues, with specific tests varying based on age and gender.
National Cancer Screenings
The city also offers six national cancer screenings – gastric,liver,colon,breast,cervical,and lung cancer – to eligible residents. These screenings are available free of charge to medical aid beneficiaries and those with health insurance premiums in the lower 50%.
Early detection is crucial in treating the six major cancers, which are a leading cause of death in South Korea. When detected and treated early, these cancers have a cure rate of at least 90%, significantly reducing mortality rates.
Cancer Incidence in Gyeongsan
Data from 2016-2022 shows the age-standardized incidence of major cancers in Gyeongsan per 100,000 people:
- stomach cancer: 60.2
- Colon cancer: 60.7
- Lung cancer: 61.8
- Liver cancer: 30.4
- Breast cancer: 45
- Cervical cancer: 7.7
Moreover, individuals diagnosed with cancer through national cancer examinations who meet specific criteria (medical aid beneficiaries or those with health insurance premiums in the lower 50%) might potentially be eligible for up to 3 million won in medical expenses, in addition to medical benefits and coverage for second-level self-pay costs.
Encouraging Participation
Gyeongsan is actively promoting these screenings through various channels to encourage citizen participation, including:
- SNS promotion and city hall homepage
- Administrative welfare centers, health centers, and clinics
- Display boards
- Examiner outreach and text message reminders
Ahn Byung-sook noted that as of 2024, the national cancer screening rate was 36.84%,with colon cancer screening rates remaining especially low at 23.5%.
National Cancer Screening guidelines
The following table outlines the national cancer screening target and cycle: