Gyeonggi Province has provided free dental check-ups to 790,000 fourth-grade elementary students over the past seven years through its “Elementary School Student Dental Home Doctor Program,” achieving a parental satisfaction rate of 96%.
On November 20, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government hosted an evaluation meeting at its offices to review the program’s achievements from 2019 to 2025. Experts analyzed results and discussed strategies for further improvement.
The program delivers free oral examinations, preventive care, and oral health education to fourth graders, including children with disabilities, out-of-school youth, and undocumented migrant children. Participation has averaged 92.2% since 2019, reflecting strong engagement from students and guardians.
The number of participating medical institutions grew from 1,748 in 2019 to 2,363 by September 2025. Officials discussed addressing regional disparities, improving participation among vulnerable groups, and enhancing computerized monitoring of participation rates and oral health indicators.
Lee Jongik, Director of Health Promotion at Gyeonggi Province, said, “The province’s child oral health management system has achieved meaningful results. We will strengthen the institutional foundation so more children can benefit and use information systems to improve efficiency and equity.”
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 12-year-olds in Gyeonggi Province show relatively better oral health than the national average. The permanent tooth caries experience rate is 58.9% in Gyeonggi, compared with 60.3% nationwide, while the average number of affected teeth is 1.66 versus 1.94 nationally.
