Gwangju City Launches Nation's First Full-Scale AI Medical System Implementation

Gwangju City is creating a wave of innovation in future healthcare by combining artificial intelligence (AI) with medical services.

Gwangju Metropolitan City (Mayor Kang Gi-jung) announced on the 22nd that it has completed the first year of the ‘K-Health National Medical Artificial Intelligence (AI) Service and Industrial Ecosystem Construction (hereinafter K-Health Project)’ led by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National IT Industry Promotion Agency, and will start the second year of the project from April.

Led by Gwangju Technopark and in collaboration with the AI Industry Convergence Project Group, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chosun University Hospital, and the Korea Smart Healthcare Association, this project aims to build a cloud-based integrated medical data platform for medical institutions.

Currently, 138 hospitals and clinics in the Gwangju area are participating, and by the completion of the project in 2025, it is expected that more than 450 hospitals and clinics in five nearby cities including Gwangju, Yeosu, and Mokpo will participate.

Once the platform is established, data generated through various medical services will be accessible for use by companies and research institutes.

The K-Health Project provides more advanced medical services to citizens and medical staff through cloud linkage that consolidates medical data from hospitals and clinics across the city.

First, by offering advanced medical services such as AI diagnostic support services and AI ambulances, it is expected to provide solutions for accurate disease diagnosis and securing the golden time for critically ill patients during emergency transport.

So far, a total of 21 types of AI diagnostic solutions, including those for pulmonary disease diagnosis, have been introduced and are being utilized in medical treatment at Chonnam National University Hospital, Chosun University Hospital, and Gidok Hospital. Additional high-utilization diagnostic solutions will be introduced based on future demand surveys.

Additionally, an AI-based emergency medical system (AI ambulance) has been introduced in ambulances operated by the Fire Headquarters and emergency medical centers in the Gwangju area. Going forward, the AI will analyze the condition of emergency patients and hospital status to enable rapid transport.

The AI-based emergency medical system is currently installed in eight ambulances and five emergency medical centers, and by 2025, the system will be established and operated in all 38 ambulances of the Fire Headquarters and 20 emergency medical centers throughout the region.

The Life Log Health Management Center (Healthcare Demonstration Center), which is being piloted and operated at Bitgoeul Senior Health Town, will be additionally established at two locations: Dong-gu Startup Support Center (Seoseok-dong) and Seo-gu Seobitmaru Welfare Center (Pungam-dong), to support citizens in measuring basic physical fitness and managing personal health.

Furthermore, a public medical app that allows individuals to manage and utilize their own health data will be developed and provided to citizens. Through the app, citizens can easily check medical information such as treatment records, medical images, and health information from hospitals and clinics they have visited on their smartphones, and based on this information, personal health management consultations will also be possible.

In the future, a separate compensation system for citizens providing their data will be established, which is expected to enhance citizens’ experience with personal health management services.

Kim Yong-seung, Director of the AI Industry Bureau of the city, said, “Through the various medical services of the K-Health Project and the creation of an AI-based medical data utilization environment, we expect to establish a successful model in Gwangju and use it as an opportunity to expand nationwide.”