Korea Workers' Compensation Agency to Expedite Hearing Loss Claims at 83 Hospitals

The industrial accident compensation process for 'noise-induced hearing loss,' a condition where hearing diminishes due to noise, will be expedited. Noise-induced hearing loss is an occupational disease resulting from exposure to industrial noise, and individuals meeting certain criteria can receive disability benefits and hearing aid support through industrial accident insurance.

Starting July 1st, the Korea Workers' Compensation Agency (KWCA) will designate 83 hospitals and clinics nationwide as 'Special Hearing Test Examination Medical Institutions' to simplify the approval process and reduce the processing time for noise-induced hearing loss claims.

Previously, due to a limited number of examination centers, it took an average of 234 days just for the special hearing test, with the total processing time reaching 374 days as of last year. Injured workers faced the inconvenience of having to undergo a preliminary test at a general clinic before another examination at a specialized medical institution like a KWCA hospital.

The agency has resolved this issue by certifying 83 hospitals and clinics equipped with the necessary specialized facilities and personnel, in line with revisions to enforcement decrees. Procedures have been improved to allow for swift determination of disability benefits after medical consultation on the reliability of tests conducted at these specialized institutions according to legal standards.

This system improvement will not only shorten the claim processing time for noise-induced hearing loss by reducing examination waiting periods but also increase accessibility to industrial accident compensation for workers in regions without KWCA hospitals or for elderly workers who experience hearing loss after retirement.