Just 30 meters from exit 10 of Dongdaemun Station on Seoul Metro lines 1 and 4 is a dental clinic named “With Asia.” It is also the name of the civic group running the clinic, which has since 2017 been providing free dental care services every Saturday to foreign nationals here in financial difficulties.
On Dec. 18, a Filipina was receiving treatment for a tooth cavity in the clinic, while nationals of India, the Philippines and Nepal who made reservations weeks ago were waiting for their turn in one of the clinic’s three dental chairs.
“This is my second time (visiting the clinic). Their service is good ― I really like them,” the Filipina, 52, who was introduced to With Asia by her pastor, told The Korea Times. “It’s better than any other clinics I visited during the last 10 years in Korea because they’re nicer and the treatment doesn’t hurt. It’s free, too.”
The patients who come to the clinic are mainly refugees, migrant workers and their family members residing in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. Many of them do not get proper and prompt dental treatment here, due to various obstacles including the high cost of dental treatment, lack of health insurance and time and language barriers.
Yang Hyun-bong, a dentist who is leading the free clinic, started offering volunteer medical services for migrant workers in 2010 at Hwagye Temple in northern Seoul. “There was no grand mission or calling ― I just thought I needed to do what I can,” Yang said.
A sign stands near the entrance of With Asia, a non-profit dental clinic
offering free services for migrants and refugees near Dongdaemun Gate in
Seoul, Dec. 18. / Courtesy of With Asia“I think migrants are in the direst need of help in today’s Korean society. Most minority groups ― rural villagers, for example ― can benefit from the public medical system. On the other hand, migrants cannot benefit despite their large number and their contributions to the country’s economy. So I thought I should do something to help them,” Yang said.
From 2017 to 2019, the dentists and dental assistants volunteering there saw more than 100 new patients and some 330 to 570 patients returning each year. The number of patients decreased in the past two years under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, but still, there were 64 new patients and 220 returning ones representing 15 nationalities in 2020 and 72 new ones and 243 repeat ones with 12 nationalities in 2021.
In 2021, 13 dentists and 10 assistants worked at With Asia.
The clinic closed down for three months in 2020 when the pandemic hit the country hard. However, as the calls and inquiries from patients grew, they reopened the clinic. Usually, the clinic operates every day except two to three times a year when it closes for major public holidays.
“We are open from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Saturday and treat about 12 to 15 patients a day. There is a long line of reservations, but we try to restrict the number of patients for the safety and prevention of the virus spread,” explained Kim Sung-sook, the secretary-general of the organization.
According to Yang, most patients who come to With Asia have tooth loss and low masticatory ability. “They come here only when they cannot endure the pain any longer. Dental care usually costs a significant amount of time and money, and most of our patients would rather spend the money they have to their families back in their home countries,” Yang said.
The clinic runs on donations and support funds from its members, relevant associations and local governments. Among the longtime donors are the dentistry association, dental technicians’ groups and medical device companies.
In 2020, the clinic received financial aid from the Seoul Metropolitan Government which selected it as one of the non-profit organizations for its public service project.
Yang Hyun-bong, the head of With Asia, treated a migrant worker at the organization's clinic in Seoul, Dec. 18. / Courtesy of With Asia
Jeong Jin-woo, the pastor at Seoul Diaspora Church supporting the Philippine community in the city, is one of the many sources introducing migrant patients to the clinic.
“Our church members (from the Philippines) were amazed when I introduced With Asia to them. It is especially difficult to find a volunteer dental clinic among all medical services, and we all know how a toothache can be a real pain. Unfortunately, going to a hospital is rarely an option for them and they depend on painkillers,” Jeong told The Korea Times, Tuesday.
According to a report by the National Human Rights Council of Korea based on a 2020 survey, about 3 out of 10 migrants here could not receive medical services even if they wanted to, mostly because it was too expensive (54.1 percent) and because they don’t have the time (37.4 percent).
“I believe Korean society should be more generous and inclusive to foreign workers. The country’s economy cannot run without foreign manpower in the ‘3D’ industries,” Jeong said. “I hope that organizations like With Asia, which reaches out to the migrant population in welfare blind spots, will receive more support and attention from the government and people.”
Yang called for more government coverage of medical costs for migrant workers.
“It could be difficult for the government to cover the medical needs of registered and unregistered migrant workers all at once. Thus, I believe it is important to first guarantee them safe working conditions and fair compensation,” Yang said.
