[Interview] Yuseonghun District Mayor "Full-scale Promotion of Large General Hospital Construction, a Long-cherished Project in Geumcheon-gu"

Strengthening Emergency Medical System to Protect Residents' Lives... Comprehensive Hospital to be Built at 996 Siheung-dong, 5 Basement to 18 Floors Above Ground, Total Floor Area 175,818㎡, 809 Beds

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] “The large general hospital responsible for the health and lives of local residents will become a landmark symbolizing the future of Geumcheon, along with the new Geumcheon-gu Office Complex History with an appearance and historicity befitting the gateway to Geumcheon, and the opening of the Sinansan Line to expand transportation infrastructure,” said Yuseonghun, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu, in an interview with this paper.

Regarding the long-awaited large general hospital construction project in the region, he stated, “Last year, the construction project was temporarily delayed due to the discovery of the endangered species level 2, the Manggongyi frog, on the former Korea Electric Wire site, but with the environmental impact assessment review passed and the building permit processed, the project is now back on track.”

The general hospital construction project has sequentially completed traffic impact assessment, underground safety impact assessment, and architectural committee review since June 2020, and in February this year, it obtained ‘approval as originally proposed’ in the final environmental impact assessment review by Seoul City.

After completing the environmental impact assessment, the district passed the building permit on February 24 and is preparing to start construction. Temporary fence maintenance and detailed soil investigation will be completed by the end of March, and a groundbreaking ceremony will be held on April 9. Preparations for construction, including safety management plans, will be completed to begin construction in May, aiming for completion in January 2026, accelerating the project.

Additionally, on the 14th of last month, Geumcheon-gu signed a business agreement with Booyoung Group’s medical corporation, Woojeong Medical Foundation, for the successful construction of the general hospital.

Through this agreement, Geumcheon-gu promises to provide active administrative support for the hospital construction and to cooperate with Woojeong Medical Foundation for job creation for Geumcheon residents and regional economic development. Woojeong Medical Foundation will cooperate in providing university hospital-level top medical services, enhancing residents’ welfare, and offering medical services to marginalized groups.

The general hospital to be built at 996 Siheung-dong will have 5 underground floors and 18 aboveground floors, with a total floor area of 175,818㎡ and 809 beds. Key facilities include ▲Basement floors 1 to 5 for parking and convenience facilities ▲Floors 1 to 4 for outpatient clinics, examination rooms, and cultural spaces ▲Floors 5 to 6 for operating rooms, intensive care units, research labs, and a sky garden ▲Floors 7 to 17 for inpatient wards ▲Floor 18 as the rooftop floor.

Specialized medical centers such as cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and women’s centers will be established. In particular, to secure the golden hour, the installation of a regional emergency medical center utilizing the hospital rooftop heliport is under consideration. Health-related facilities including a mental health welfare center, dementia relief center, and psychological counseling office ‘Maeum Shwim’ will be housed. Within the hospital grounds, a 3,300㎡ park including ‘Healing Garden’ and ‘Well-being Forest’ will be created for patients and local residents to relax.

Along with the creation of public open spaces and roads, it is expected to lead improvements in road traffic around Geumcheon-gu Office Station and changes in the urban environment.

Mayor Yuseonghun said, “We will strengthen the emergency medical system to protect residents’ lives and dramatically enhance Geumcheon-gu’s health and medical sector through coexistence with local medical institutions,” adding, “We will do our best to improve residents’ quality of life and create a happy city Geumcheon that residents can be proud of.”