Korea Pushes Specialized Cancer Strategy Across 13 Regional Centers

The Korean government is launching a "specialized cancer type" initiative centered on 13 regional cancer centers nationwide to overhaul a cancer treatment system heavily concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area. The plan goes beyond simple budget support, aiming to redefine regional roles, nurture hospitals with competitive edges in specific cancer types and ultimately redirect patient flows. In an interview with the Seoul Economic Daily on Friday, Yang Han-kwang, president of the National Cancer Center (NCC), said, "We plan to personally visit regional cancer centers, analyze each region's capabilities and demand, and pursue specialization strategies centered on cancer types where they have strengths." He added, "The key is to build the perception that sufficiently competitive treatment is available in regional areas as well." Currently, cancer treatment in Korea is structured so that patients are concentrated in the so-called "Big 5 hospitals." While basic treatment is available in regional areas, patients and their families often choose Seoul-area hospitals out of vague anxiety. The government has moved to reorganize the cancer treatment system around regional cancer centers to break this pattern. As part of this effort, the government is pursuing a "specialized cancer type" strategy that leverages each center's strengths. The idea is for each regional cancer center to focus its clinical care and research capabilities on areas where it excels, effectively serving as a specialized hospital for specific cancer types. If a regional center demonstrates strong treatment outcomes in cancers such as liver cancer or bile duct cancer, that field would receive concentrated development to create a structure that draws patients from other regions as well. "To give patients the confidence that they don't need to go to Seoul, treatment outcomes ultimately have to deliver," Yang said. "If a center shows excellent results in a specific cancer, patient flows can change naturally." To support this initiative, the NCC is also building a network that combines standard treatment guidelines, clinical research and medical data. The NCC will serve as a hub to generate clinical evidence and share it with regional cancer centers, enabling treatment of a uniform standard nationwide. At the same time, it plans to expand collaborative research across regions to elevate the research capabilities of local medical professionals. The initiative also includes introducing performance indicators that can objectively demonstrate the capabilities of regional cancer centers. The aim is to develop metrics based on treatment outcomes such as surgical results and survival rates, providing patients with clear criteria for choosing where to receive care. "The role of the National Cancer Center is to establish standard treatment evidence and spread it nationwide," Yang said. "We will link research and data with regional cancer centers to build a system where sufficient treatment is available locally." He added, "Without strengthening the NCC's own capabilities, it is difficult to improve regional cancer treatment standards, so we are also considering improvements to medical staff compensation."

Korea Pushes Specialized Cancer Strategy Across 13 Regional Centers

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