Baek Nam-jong, a professor of rehabilitation medicine and former head of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, has been appointed as the 20th president of Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH).
According to the medical community Thursday, Baek officially takes office after receiving the president's approval of his appointment. He will serve a three-year term as SNUH president until May 13, 2029.
Baek graduated from Seoul National University College of Medicine in 1990 and has served as a professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Seoul National University College of Medicine since 2001. He began his administrative career as director of public relations at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital in 2013, later serving as director of planning and coordination, before leading the hospital as president from 2021 to 2023 during the COVID-19 pandemic. During his tenure, he worked to strengthen public health functions by expanding cooperation with regional public hospitals and proactively participating in the operation of COVID-19 residential treatment centers. Externally, he has served as the inaugural president of the Asian-Oceanian Society for NeuroRehabilitation, chairman of the Korean Society for NeuroRehabilitation, and chairman of the Korean Society of Telemedicine. He has also been elected as the incoming president of the World Federation for NeuroRehabilitation, establishing his reputation as a leading authority in the field of neurorehabilitation.
The SNUH president is finally appointed by the president of Korea, following a recommendation from the hospital's board of directors and a nomination by the Minister of Education. In March, the SNUH board of directors recommended Baek and Park Joong-shin, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at SNUH, to the Ministry of Education as final candidates after an interview review. The SNUH president receives the treatment of a vice-ministerial-level official and is eligible for one additional term. The position holds personnel authority over the heads of its affiliated institutions, including Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Gangnam Healthcare Center, and SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center.
