Chungnam Aims to Open Naepo New Town General Hospital by 2026

[Asia Economy (Hongseong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The Naepo New Town General Hospital is expected to open in 2026, two years earlier than originally planned.

On the 22nd, Chungnam Governor Kim Tae-heum held a year-end press conference at the Chungnam Provincial Office and announced that an agreement was reached with Myungji Medical Foundation (hereafter the Foundation) to advance the opening schedule of the Naepo General Hospital.

The core of the agreement is to shorten the three-year land acquisition period to one year, complete the land purchase by October next year, start hospital construction in 2024, and complete it by 2026.

The province and the Foundation plan to sign a memorandum of understanding in January next year based on this agreement.

Earlier, in May, the Foundation signed a sales contract with Chungnam Development Corporation for a 34,214㎡ medical facility site within Naepo Innovation City to build the Naepo General Hospital.

The Foundation plans to build a Naepo General Hospital with more than 500 beds, including an emergency medical center and a severe cardiovascular center, on the purchased site.

However, controversy arose when it was revealed that at the time of signing the contract with Chungnam Development Corporation, the Foundation agreed to pay the total purchase price, including the deposit, interim payment, and balance, over three years.

Regarding this, Governor Kim said, “After taking office, I reviewed the contract details related to the Naepo General Hospital and found many inappropriate aspects,” adding, “If we followed the land sale and approval procedures as planned, it would have been impossible to even break ground within my term.”

He continued, “However, by shortening the land acquisition period and agreeing with the Foundation to proceed with the approval process within the shortened period, we expect the opening schedule of the Naepo General Hospital to be advanced.”