Baek Nam-jong, the new director of Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH), unveiled a vision Friday to "elevate SNUH into a 'future hospital' through a transformative digital transition."
Baek announced the plan at his inauguration ceremony held that afternoon at the CJ Hall of the Children's Hospital. "I will firmly establish SNUH as a 'hospital of the people' so that it solidifies its role as the control tower of the regional essential public healthcare system," he said. He also diagnosed that Korean healthcare currently stands at a major turning point, expressing his determination to turn this paradigm shift into an opportunity for advancement.
He said he plans to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) systems across the entire care cycle and establish an "intelligent connected care" model in which medical treatment and care continue even after discharge. "I will dedicate all my experience and passion to making SNUH a world-class hospital that is trusted and loved by the public and that inspires awe and inspiration in the global medical community," he stressed.
Baek was appointed director of SNUH on the 13th of last month, beginning a three-year term. A graduate of Seoul National University College of Medicine, the new director has served as a professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Seoul National University College of Medicine since 2001. He began as public relations chief at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital in 2013, served as director of planning and coordination, and was head of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from 2021 to 2023 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The director of SNUH is finally appointed by the president, following a recommendation from the SNUH board of directors and a nomination by the minister of education. The SNUH director receives treatment equivalent to vice-ministerial rank and may serve one additional consecutive term.
