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Sihung Internal Medicine: Information on Workplace Health Checkup Items and Penalties

Hello, this is Sungmo Best Internal Medicine, providing care in Jangok-dong, Siheung. "My workplace told me to get a health checkup, but do I really need to?" "I was too busy this year and just skipped it, will I be okay?" These are common questions we hear in the examination room. Despite the workplace health checkup system, many people don't utilize it properly.

Sometimes people don't know the system well, and sometimes they know it but postpone it because it's inconvenient. In such cases, it's worth reflecting on the essence of the word 'checkup.' A checkup isn't just a procedure to check numbers or result sheets; it's about detecting abnormal signals that might be hidden somewhere in the body, even if there are no symptoms yet. That's why in today's column, we'd like to explain what a workplace health checkup means and what disadvantages can actually arise if you miss it.

According to the Industrial Safety and Health Act, employers are obligated to ensure their employees receive regular health checkups, and employees are also required to faithfully comply.

• General health checkup recipients: Once every 2 years
• Non-office workers: Once every year
• Workers in specific hazardous environments: Additional special health checkups

In other words, workplace health checkups are mandatory, and failure to receive them can result in administrative disadvantages for both the individual and the company.

Disadvantages for the company

Disadvantages for the employee

Not only does the opportunity for checkups provided by the National Health Insurance Service disappear, but you may also be excluded from the 'Medical Expense Support Project for Cancer Patients' supported by public health centers. A fine is also directly imposed on the employee: 50,000 won for the first instance, 100,000 won for the second, and 150,000 won for the third.

Recently, a male office worker in his late 40s visited our clinic. He had been confident about his health and had postponed checkups for several years, but he came to the hospital due to severe fatigue and occasionally even showed symptoms of jaundice. The medical staff suspected liver problems and immediately conducted a detailed examination. The test results showed abnormally high liver enzyme levels, and early liver cancer was discovered on the abdominal ultrasound. I still remember the patient's regretful words, "If I had gotten a checkup last year, I could have been treated more simply than now."

Diseases often grow silently without any warning and only show symptoms later. A checkup is a way to detect those silent signals in advance. In particular, stomach cancer, colorectal cancer, liver disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes often have almost no symptoms in the early stages and are frequently discovered by chance during checkups, so please do not neglect them. It may be helpful to check the procedures for checkups and endoscopies in advance through our Examination Guide.

Basic checkup items

• Weight, blood pressure, vision, hearing
• Blood tests (liver function, kidney function, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, etc.)
• Chest X-ray
• Urinalysis
• Oral examination

Age-specific optional items

• Age 40 and over: Gastroscopy
• Age 50 and over: Fecal occult blood test for colorectal cancer
• Male smokers aged 54 and over: Low-dose CT scan for lung cancer
• Women: Cervical cancer screening (every 2 years for those aged 20 and over)

Common mandatory items

• Medical history questionnaire and lifestyle assessment (smoking, drinking, exercise, etc.)
• Mental health questionnaire (depression, etc.)

All these items are covered by the National Health Insurance Service, so you can receive them without any personal cost. This makes it an opportunity that should not be missed.

In a busy work life, taking care of your own body can sometimes feel like a luxury. Many people also consider health checkups "just another item on the schedule." However, a health checkup is not a mere formality done because the company requires it.

It is the most realistic and rational choice to protect your future health and life. This seemingly minor investment of time becomes the foundation for maintaining your health for years, or even decades, to come. If you are still postponing your checkup appointment, we recommend checking our Clinic Hours and scheduling your visit.

Thank you.

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Dr. Kim Seonhoo (Specialist in Gastroenterology, Specialist in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy) · Medical Staff Introduction · Last reviewed 2026-08-06