"I nearly died. I was told I might lose my leg... For a month after the accident, I had to wear diapers. Even after almost four years, my knee still aches and I struggle to climb stairs."
On the afternoon of December 24, at an outpatient clinic on the first floor of the National Fire Hospital in Chungbuk Innovation City, Eumseong County, North Chungcheong Province, Professor Jeon In-pyo of the rehabilitation medicine department reviewed the medical history of Kim Hong-geol (52), a fire lieutenant from Seochungju Safety Center of Cheongju Fire Station.
Kim suffered severe injuries in mid-January 2022 when he fell 4 meters off a cliff while capturing a runaway cow near a ranch in Samseong-myeon, Eumseong County. At the time, he barely reached a university hospital emergency room after nearly an hour in an ambulance, where he was diagnosed with multiple fractures including the radius in his left arm, orbital bone and femur. He underwent three surgeries to reconstruct his collapsed face and multiple additional surgeries and rehabilitation, but aftereffects remain throughout his body.
Becoming the hospital's first patient that day, Kim said, "Back then, there was no university-level general hospital in the central Chungbuk region, so even severe emergency patients had to travel to Cheongju or Wonju for treatment. I'm glad that firefighters who suffer frequent injuries and illnesses, as well as local residents, can now receive high-quality medical services on par with Seoul National University Hospital."
The National Fire Hospital, Korea's first specialized medical facility for firefighters, completed its medical institution permit on December 18 and began outpatient rehabilitation medicine services on December 24. The hospital was built with a total budget of 207 billion won ($152 million), comprising four above-ground floors and two basement levels with a total floor area of 39,558 square meters. As a general hospital with 302 beds, it offers 19 medical departments.
The National Fire Agency established the hospital, while Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) signed an operational consignment contract in 2022, participating in the entire preparation process from before construction began. The initial trial departments include internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and rehabilitation medicine.
Led by inaugural director Kwak Young-ho, a SNUH emergency medicine professor, the hospital has secured nine specialists across eight departments. For two months through February next year, the hospital will operate on a reservation basis for firefighters, police officers and their immediate family members, before expanding trial operations to local residents starting in March.
"Ahead of the official opening, we plan to systematically verify whether the hospital systems and treatment processes operate stably in actual clinical environments," Director Kwak said. "After confirming medical infrastructure and procedures including the next-generation Hospital Information System, we aim to officially open in June next year with inpatient rooms, operating rooms, emergency rooms and dialysis units."
This marks the first time Korea has established a public hospital providing systematic, state-level medical services tailored to the occupational characteristics of firefighters. After the official opening, the hospital will operate four specialized centers focusing on burns, integrated rehabilitation, mental health and health promotion, along with a firefighting medicine research institute. The goal is to provide comprehensive medical services covering prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and recovery for firefighters. The facility includes hyperbaric oxygen treatment equipment and a helipad for burn and gas poisoning treatment as well as rapid response capabilities in disaster and emergency situations.
Although initially built primarily for firefighter treatment and rehabilitation, the hospital will also serve as a regional hub for critical and emergency essential medical care in central Chungbuk. The central Chungbuk area, including Eumseong, Jincheon, Goesan and Jeungpyeong counties, has lacked a university-level general hospital, forcing patients with severe conditions to travel long distances for treatment. The hospital's operation of a regional emergency medical center with 119 emergency transport and critical patient response systems is expected to significantly address the regional healthcare gap. A new model to revive regional public healthcare in crisis is now being put to the test.
Local governments and companies are lending support. North Chungcheong Province and Eumseong and Jincheon counties contributed 20 billion won for state-of-the-art medical equipment, while Hyundai Motor Group provided approximately 3 billion won worth of unmanned fire trucks, recovery support vehicles and rehabilitation equipment developed in collaboration with the National Fire Agency.
However, challenges remain before the official opening, including increasing the number of specialists from nine to 48. The hospital is pursuing both SNUH faculty recruitment and independent hiring, while working to improve living conditions through new apartment provisions and research funding support.
"The National Fire Hospital is a symbolic institution representing the nation's response to the dedication of firefighters who have protected citizens' lives," said Kim Young-tae, director of Seoul National University Hospital. "Based on the clinical care, research and public healthcare operational expertise we have accumulated as the national central hospital, SNUH will faithfully fulfill its role in helping the National Fire Hospital establish itself as a firefighter-specialized treatment and research center as well as a public healthcare hub for central Chungbuk."
