Chonnam National University Hospital Selected for Ministry of Education's New Clinical Education Training Center Project

Basement 1 Floor, 4 Floors Above Ground, Total Area 5,400㎡ Scheduled for Completion in 2025

Medical Technology Training for Local Healthcare Workers and Students

Opening Targeted for 2026... Expected to Serve as a Public Healthcare Education

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam National University Hospital (Director Ahn Young-geun) announced on the 9th that it has been selected as a hospital eligible for support in the Ministry of Education’s public project to establish a ‘Clinical Education Training Center.’

The Jeonnam National University Hospital Clinical Education Training Center will be newly constructed with a total project cost of 25 billion KRW over four years until 2025 (national subsidy of 18.75 billion KRW and self-funded 6.25 billion KRW), with a total floor area of 5,400㎡ consisting of one basement floor and four above-ground floors.

The planned construction site was secured in the Seongyo District of Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, a basic local government, with its cooperation.

This Clinical Education Training Center project is the first of its kind among national university hospitals to be promoted in cooperation with a basic local government, and it is expected to contribute not only to meeting the demand for medical education and training in the region but also to revitalizing the local economy.

The Clinical Education Training Center will provide medical technology education and training not only to Jeonnam National University Hospital’s residents and nurses but also to all healthcare personnel in the region and prospective healthcare workers such as health science students.

Moving away from traditional apprenticeship-style education, the center plans to conduct systematic education and training using advanced ICT technology for experiential learning and to improve proficiency in utilizing new medical technology fusion medical devices, developing into a hub for public medical education in the Honam region.

Project lead professor Joo Jae-gyun emphasized, “When applying for the public project, we highlighted that the number of severe patients in the Gwangju-Jeonnam area is increasing annually, and the proportion of elderly patients aged 65 or older reaches 47.4%, meaning we have diverse case data related to elderly patients, optimizing clinical education.” He added, “The Seongyo District, where the center will be established, has excellent transportation accessibility to regional medical institutions such as Jeonnam National University Hospital, Hwasun Jeonnam National University Hospital, Bitgoeul Jeonnam National University Hospital, Chosun University Hospital, and Gwangju Christian Hospital, so it is expected to meet the demand for medical education and training in the Honam region.”

The reason Jeonnam National University Hospital was selected as the Clinical Education Training Center support target, overcoming fierce competition among national university hospitals nationwide, appears to be greatly influenced by submitting a customized proposal reflecting opinions gathered from various sectors including the local medical community.

The education program was also developed through dozens of meetings and intense discussions with medical professionals, enabling the submission of a specialized education program tailored to the region.

Accordingly, the Jeonnam National University Hospital Clinical Education Training Center plans to specialize in education and training for severe and emergency patient response as well as surgery and procedure training, considering the Gwangju-Jeonnam region’s highest elderly population ratio nationwide and the need to respond to emergency patients in island areas.

Additionally, it will develop and operate medical education programs based on regional social demands through human and material exchanges with local medical institutions and related organizations.

In particular, Jeonnam National University Hospital aims to provide medical education and training opportunities to more than 30,000 people annually after its opening in 2026, targeting not only about 280 medical institutions and 50,000 healthcare personnel in the region but also health science students, fire station personnel, and the general public.

Beyond the construction project budget, Jeonnam National University Hospital plans to invest its own annual budget to focus on hiring dedicated new personnel and developing educational content, playing a leading role in public health medical education and training in the region and contributing to the cultivation of high-quality medical personnel.

Director Ahn Young-geun stated, “The Jeonnam National University Hospital Clinical Education Training Center is the first project among national university hospitals to seek coexistence with the region through collaboration with a basic local government, making it sufficient to upgrade medical education and training to the next level.” He added, “We plan to establish a top-level regional medical ecosystem and provide more systematic and professional medical services to local residents.”