Assemblyman Shin Jeong-hoon: "The National Advanced Medical Complex Should Be Expanded"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] On the 21st, National Assembly member Shin Jeong-hoon (Democratic Party, Jeonnam Naju·Hwasun) and Jeonnam Province held an "On-Tact Discussion on Measures to Expand the National Advanced Medical Complex" at the Glad Hotel in Yeouido, with Governor Kim Young-rok, Hwasun County Mayor Koo Chung-gon, and others in attendance, officially launching efforts to promote the necessity and build consensus.

At the discussion, Kim Min-seok, Chairman of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee, Kim Seong-joo, Secretary of the Health and Welfare Committee, National Assembly members Kim Won-i and Lee Yong-bin, among others, delivered congratulatory remarks supporting Jeonnam's hosting.

The Advanced Medical Complex is a Silicon Valley of the medical industry aimed at revitalizing medical research and development and promoting the commercialization of research outcomes. In 2005, two locations were selected: Daegu Sinsuh Innovation City and Chungbuk Osong Life Science Complex. This project is a large-scale national project investing approximately 5.6 trillion KRW over 30 years until 2038.

However, since the designation of the first Advanced Medical Complex, reflecting rapidly changing latest medical technologies and global demand, and preparing for the resurgence of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, additional designation of national advanced medical complexes is being requested.

In this regard, National Assembly member Shin Jeong-hoon, Jeonnam Province, and Hwasun County stated, "The Hwasun Vaccine Special Zone is the only place in South Korea equipped with infrastructure that supports all stages of vaccine and pharmaceutical development to production, including research and development, sample production, non-clinical trials, clinical trials, and manufacturing, in a one-stop manner," and are actively pursuing the designation of the national advanced medical complex in Jeonnam.

In 2019, President Moon Jae-in, during his visit to Jeonnam, stated, "The government will work together to realize Hwasun's biomedical hub," which has strengthened efforts to attract the complex to Jeonnam.

Jeonnam Province submitted the advanced medical complex establishment plan and site request to the Ministry of Health and Welfare on the 30th of last month.

At the discussion, Park Ki-young, Dean of the Graduate School at Suncheon National University, presented on "The Current Status of Jeonnam's Bio Industry and the Necessity of Designating an Advanced Medical Complex," and Park Seong-ho, Secretary-General of the Vaccine Commercialization Technology Development Project Group, presented on "The Current Status and Development Direction of Domestic Bio Clusters." Professors Lim Shin-hyuk of POSTECH, Lee Seung-gyu, Center Director of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Planning and Evaluation, Ji Dong-hyun, CEO of Connect Clinical Science, and Choi Yoon-hee, Senior Research Fellow at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade, engaged in a lively discussion.

Governor Kim Young-rok of Jeonnam Province said, "If a new advanced medical complex is established in Jeonnam, a 'non-capital region advanced medical triangle' connecting Chungbuk-Daegu/Gyeongbuk-Jeonnam will be formed, balancing each region evenly, completing the 'national medical industry development platform,' and significantly enhancing the national competitiveness of the bio-medical industry." He added, "We will unite the power of Jeonnam residents and take the lead in attracting the national advanced medical complex to Jeonnam."

Park Ki-young, Dean of Suncheon National University Graduate School, in his keynote presentation, said, "It is necessary to build a world-class treatment network centered on Hwasun Jeonnam National University Hospital and develop it into a global hub for immune-based cell therapy and medical services," and proposed "supporting the scientification of the healing healing park industry combining advanced healing and immune enhancement."

National Assembly member Shin Jeong-hoon said, "The vaccine industry, whose importance is increasing due to COVID-19, and the only domestic vaccine industry special zone combining bio and medical in Hwasun, Jeonnam, already has various infrastructures in place, making it the optimal site for early establishment at minimal cost," and added, "Together with Jeonnam Province, we will do our best to attract the Jeonnam-type advanced medical complex to be reflected early in the national strategic project."