Yoon Euisik, Vice President for Medical Affairs and Medical Center Director Press Conference
Advancing as a Research-Oriented Medical Institution... Transition to a Smart Hospital
Establishment of a Specialized Talent Management System
Promotion of 4th Hospital Establishment in Gwacheon and Namyangju
Consideration of Introducing a Heavy Ion Therapy System in the 4th Hospital
"Korea University Medical Center is leading the overcoming of severe intractable diseases and innovative future medical research. As we approach our 100th anniversary, we will continuously pursue innovation and progressively inherit the achievements we have built so far, turning this into a historic turning point that connects to a new future."
Korea University Vice President for Medical Affairs Yoon Eul-sik is giving a greeting at a press conference held on the 27th. [Photo by Korea University Medical Center]
At a press conference held on the 27th, Yoon Eul-sik, the newly appointed Vice President for Medical Affairs and Director of Korea University Medical Center, who took office last March, said this. Marking about a month since his inauguration, Vice President Yoon expressed his ambition to continue the challenge of R&D-centered investment and the transition to a smart hospital as a "first mover."
Founded in 1928 and boasting nearly 100 years of history, Korea University Medical Center oversees the College of Medicine and three tertiary general hospitals: Anam Hospital, Guro Hospital, and Ansan Hospital. In addition, it has established the Jeongneung Mediscience Park and the Cheongdam Goyoung Campus, a future medicine testbed.
Leap to 'Super-gap Research-Centered Medical Institution' through R&D Promotion
The medical center plans to strengthen its relatively undervalued brand value by focusing on nurturing the R&D sector. The affiliated hospitals aim to become research-centered medical institutions based on synergy with the College of Medicine, Mediscience Park, and Cheongdam Goyoung Campus beyond just clinical spaces. Vice President Yoon explained, "In advanced countries, tertiary general hospitals hardly make profits from general medical care, but more than half of medical revenue comes from research," adding, "Korea University Medical Center is increasing its investment in research compared to competing hospitals." The medical center’s strategy is to develop research as a core driving force and build infrastructure that aligns with this.
In fact, R&D-related achievements have steadily increased every year. Korea University Medical Center’s external R&D contract amount reached 150 billion KRW last year, showing an average annual growth rate of 13%. Technology transfer fees received from transferring core technologies developed by faculty members to external institutions also amount to 30 billion KRW. The medical center plans to invest about 120 billion KRW over the next four years in research infrastructure and incentives. Alongside this, it plans to conduct joint research with domestic and international institutions through open innovation.
As part of building infrastructure for R&D, the medical center plans to increase the number of beds for infectious diseases, surgical capabilities, and severe disease systems, expanding the scale of affiliated hospitals to 3,500 beds. Currently, the total number of beds in the medical center’s affiliated hospitals?Anam (1,056 beds), Guro (1,091 beds), and Ansan (836 beds)?does not reach 3,000.
Transition to Next-Generation Smart Hospital... Establishment of Talent Management System
Officials from Korea University Medical Center are answering questions at a press conference. From the left: Son Hoseong, Director of Medical Planning; Han Seungbeom, Director of Anam Hospital; Yoon Eulsik, Vice President of Medical Affairs; Jeong Heejin, Director of Guro Hospital; Seo Donghun, Deputy Director of Medical Services at Ansan Hospital; Kim Hakjun, Director of Medical Research. [Photo by Korea University Medical Center]
It will also accelerate the transition to next-generation smart hospitals incorporating IT technology. Utilizing advanced IT innovation technologies such as the cloud-based hospital information system developed first in Korea by the medical center, artificial intelligence, and digital healthcare, it aims to establish a personalized precision medical system. The medical center’s Medical Intelligence Information Office has already built a cloud-based medical information system, processing patient data from 3,000 beds across affiliated hospitals via the cloud. The medical center is forming a research team to utilize this data.
It will also actively secure and manage excellent human resources to drive development. The medical center plans to appoint 30 to 40 faculty members annually over the next 10 years. In line with this, it will establish a specialized talent management system for recruiting, managing, and operating personnel. Additionally, it will launch extensive support programs to nurture basic and clinical physician-scientists. A representative example is the "Leading Physician-Scientist Development Scholarship," which supports admission and tuition fees for residents or clinical instructors employed by the medical center who enter the College of Medicine. Since the second semester of last year, the medical center has increased the scholarship ratio, supporting 50% of admission fees and 80% of tuition fees.
Fourth Hospital in Gwacheon and Namyangju... Facility Improvements at Existing Medical Center
Institutions under Korea University Medical Center. From the top left clockwise: College of Medicine, Anam Hospital, Guro Hospital, Cheongdam Goyoung Campus, Jeongneung Mediscience Park, Ansan Hospital. [Photo by Korea University Medical Center]
The medical center is promoting the construction of a fourth hospital in Gwacheon and Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, in line with the 100th anniversary of the College of Medicine in 2028. From the initial stage, the fourth hospital has been discussed thoroughly through a joint consultative body with local governments, covering urban development plans, infrastructure, related regulations, and ripple effects. Having prepared for the fourth hospital for several years, Korea University Medical Center plans to create a medical institution that coexists with the local community by implementing a smart hospital incorporating medical technology and open innovation to overcome severe intractable diseases.
Vice President Yoon also indicated intentions to consider introducing a carbon ion therapy device recently adopted by Yonsei University Severance Hospital. The carbon ion therapy device is known as a "dream treatment device" that irradiates carbon ions to cancer cells, releasing powerful radiation energy to eliminate them. Carbon ions have about 12 times the particle mass of protons, allowing a stronger attack on cancer cells, especially showing powerful effects on solid tumors. Vice President Yoon stated, "We are reviewing plans to introduce a carbon ion therapy device at the fourth hospital under construction."
The affiliated hospitals will also accelerate facility improvements and research capacity enhancement through large-scale investments. Anam Hospital will complete the Medi Complex this summer after years of construction. The realization of a smart hospital will also be in full swing, providing an Internet of Things-based automation system and a cloud-based precision medical system.
Guro Hospital is intensifying its severe disease treatment system. It is smoothly progressing with the construction of the Nuri Building, which focuses on expanding the cancer hospital, operating rooms, and intensive care units.
Ansan Hospital is adding three floors to the Future Medicine Building and three floors to the underground parking lot. It is establishing a smart ward equipped with a biosignal measurement and infusion management monitoring system and operating kiosks for automating outpatient basic tests and an AI program for automatic generation of shift schedules, laying the foundation for a smart future hospital. Additionally, it is strengthening capabilities in sports medicine, specializing in treating athletes' injuries and supporting injury prevention.
Vice President Yoon pledged, "We will transcend the old perspectives and prejudices that defined our limits, focus on the values and roles that only Korea University Medical Center can create, and solidify our foundation."
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