Korea University Medical Center has launched full-scale plans to build the nation's first autonomous artificial intelligence-based future hospital in Dongtan, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. Rather than simply establishing a branch hospital, the center aims to set a new standard for next-generation smart hospitals by integrating advanced medical technologies and infrastructure across all aspects of hospital operations.
Yoon Eul-sik, Vice President for Medical Affairs and President of Korea University Medical Center, said at a press conference held at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul on Friday, "We will build a top-tier general hospital with 700 beds targeting a 2035 opening, creating a 'future medical complex platform.'"
Korea University Medical Center signed a six-party memorandum of understanding on May 18 with Hwaseong City, Korea Land and Housing Corporation, Woomi Construction, Mirae Asset Securities, and Leeds International for the construction of Korea University Dongtan Hospital. The project gained full momentum after receiving prior approval from the Ministry of Health and Welfare for establishing a general hospital.
Korea University Medical Center cited the region's urgent healthcare needs as the reason for selecting Dongtan New Town as the site for its fourth hospital, amid criticism over establishing metropolitan branch hospitals. Hwaseong, a special-status city with a population of 1.06 million as of January this year, has been growing rapidly enough to rank first nationwide in number of births, yet has suffered from a shortage of essential medical services.
Son Ho-sung, Director of Medical Planning at Korea University Medical Center, said, "Hwaseong has only 6.1 hospital beds per 1,000 residents, less than half the national average of 13.8." He added, "Because bed supply falls far short of demand, the majority of serious patients must travel to Seoul for treatment."
"When the future-oriented Dongtan Hospital joins our research-focused Anam, Guro, and Ansan hospitals, it will create a new and powerful quad system," Yoon said. "We will accelerate differentiated ultra-precision personalized care and innovative R&D by building a 'KU Medicine Big Data Hub' based on our existing cloud system."
