Selection of Preferred Design Negotiator Within the Year, Construction Scheduled to Start in 2022
Gonam Seok (sixth from the right), Mayor of Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, and Seung Hwan Seo, President of Yonsei University, are taking a commemorative photo with university officials and representatives of Yeonsu-gu residents after signing the "Agreement for Mutual Cooperation and Joint Development" on the 10th. [Photo by Yeonsu-gu]
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] On the 11th, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon announced that it has received a commitment from Yonsei University to open the Songdo Severance Hospital with 800 beds in Songdo District 7 by 2026, as previously stated.
The district signed an agreement for mutual cooperation and joint development between Yeonsu-gu and Yonsei University at the Yonsei University International Campus General Hall the day before, attended by about 30 people including Yonsei University and Yeonsu-gu officials and representatives of Songdo area residents.
At the event, Yonsei University President Seo Seung-hwan stated that by the end of this year, a preferred design negotiator for the construction of Songdo Severance Hospital in Songdo District 7 will be selected, construction will begin in 2022, and medical services will start by 2026.
Along with this, it was also promised to form a joint consultative body involving Yonsei University, resident representatives, and Yeonsu-gu to establish a new relationship between the local community and the university and to ensure smooth cooperation as desired by local residents.
Yeonsu-gu Mayor Ko Nam-seok emphasized Yonsei University's role in Songdo International City and the prompt start of medical services, urging the establishment of a developmental relationship between the local community and Yonsei University, including support for lifelong learning programs for residents.
The agreement signed that day focuses on mutual resource exchange aimed at improving residents' welfare and joint development, including the formation of a joint consultative body with an equal number of members from Yeonsu-gu and Yonsei University.
In particular, the scope of the project includes ▲ joint cooperation for the creation and activation of a smart city ▲ promotion of community educational contribution projects through industry-academia cooperation ▲ provision of information exchange and collaboration opportunities for youth startups ▲ cooperation in creating a cultural and healthy city in Yeonsu-gu ▲ improvement of residents' welfare and joint development.
Since December last year, Yeonsu-gu has urged Yonsei University to clarify its position on the early commencement of construction for Songdo Severance Hospital after Yonsei University signed a land supply reservation agreement with the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority for the second phase of the Songdo International Campus development project.
President Seo said, "Although there were delays due to the late signing of the sales contract and other reasons, the promised hospital establishment is now a fait accompli," adding, "I am confident that this agreement will be a stepping stone for the progressive development of Yeonsu-gu and Yonsei University."
Meanwhile, last December, Yonsei University signed a land supply reservation agreement with the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority and Songdo International Complex Development Co., Ltd. for 338,494㎡ in Songdo District 11. The land supply reservation is a measure to maintain the contents of the second phase development agreement of Yonsei University International Campus, which expired at the end of last year.
The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority plans to revise the implementation plan for the Songdo International Complex after the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's development plan review around April and then conclude a business agreement and formal land sales contract around September.
The land supply reservation for 338,494㎡ in Songdo International City District 11 includes plans to build Severance Hospital with more than 500 beds and to attract more than 1,000 research personnel such as graduate students and postdoctoral researchers to successfully establish an advanced industry-academia-research cluster.
Previously, in March 2018, the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority and Yonsei University agreed on the second phase of the Yonsei University International Campus and plans for the construction of Severance Hospital and the establishment of a Science Park.
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