Woori Financial Group is expanding its free dental clinic for vulnerable groups, the Woori Neighborhood Oral Care Center, to Jeonju in North Jeolla province.

The Woori Financial Future Foundation said on Sept. 11 it signed a business agreement at Pyeonghwa Social Welfare Center in Jeonju to operate the Woori Neighborhood Oral Care Center Jeonju branch and opened its third center.

The Jeonju branch has been set up in Pyeonghwa-dong, Wansan-gu, Jeonju and will be operated in cooperation with North Jeolla Special Self-Governing Province, Jeonbuk National University and Korea Land and Housing Corp (LH).

The foundation will support operating costs such as clinic interior work and the purchase of medical equipment. North Jeolla province will handle recruitment of patients and local promotion. Jeonbuk National University will support volunteer dental treatment by professors and students from its dental school, and LH will provide the treatment space.

The first and second centers in Seoul have so far provided 8,522 free dental treatments, including implants, dentures, periodontitis treatment and cavity treatment, to a total of 564 residents.

The foundation plans to use the opening of the Jeonju branch as a chance to expand oral care support that had been centered on Seoul to other regions and to broaden cooperation with local communities, medical institutions and public institutions.

Geon-woo Shin (신건우), a deputy manager at the Woori Financial Future Foundation, said, "While operating the center in Seoul, we confirmed that demand for dental care among vulnerable groups is high." He added, "We will expand the center across the country to support neighbors who need dental treatment."