Decision to Close Baek Hospital After 82 Years of History... Employees and Local Governments 'Opposition'

Seoul Baek Hospital, which had been pushing for closure due to accumulated deficits, is finally closing its doors after 82 years. However, strong opposition from employees and the Seoul Metropolitan Government's announcement of a strong measure to prohibit land use changes on the hospital site are expected to cause conflicts during the closure process.

The exterior view of Baek Hospital in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 20th, when the board meeting regarding the closure of Seoul Baek Hospital was held. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

On the afternoon of the 20th, Inje Foundation held a board meeting at Seoul Baek Hospital building in Jung-gu, Seoul, and unanimously approved the closure plan proposed by the management normalization task force (TF). As a result, Seoul Baek Hospital, which opened in 1941 under the name 'Baek Inje Surgical Hospital,' will disappear into history after 82 years. If the closure procedures proceed normally, the hospital is expected to close by the end of August.

Inje Foundation decided to close Seoul Baek Hospital due to continuous accumulated deficits making hospital operation difficult. The foundation stated that the accumulated deficit over 20 years since 2004 reached 174.5 billion KRW, making closure inevitable. They also explained that the deficits of Seoul Baek Hospital have been covered by other hospitals under Inje University Baek Central Medical Center, such as those in Busan, Sangye, Ilsan, and Haeundae Baek Hospitals.

After the approval of the closure plan, Inje Foundation said, "We will proceed smoothly with the transfer orders to maintain employment for all Seoul Baek Hospital staff, guide outpatients and inpatients, and issue medical documents." They added, "We will deeply discuss various plans such as building a new hospital, operating a future innovation data center, profit-making projects, and sales, and all resources generated will be reinvested in affiliated hospitals."

Seoul Baek Hospital employees strongly opposed the decision. The Baek Hospital labor union stated immediately after the closure decision, "The board unanimously passed the closure plan for Baek Hospital," and "We cannot accept the result and will continue the struggle." Coinciding with the board meeting, employees held a picketing protest in front of the main building of Seoul Baek Hospital demanding the withdrawal of the closure decision.

On the 19th, the day before the board meeting, the National Health and Medical Industry Labor Union held a press conference opposing the closure. The union launched the 'Joint Countermeasure Committee to Prevent Seoul Baek Hospital Closure (Joint Committee)' and criticized, "Closure without transparent disclosure of the management situation is hasty," and "The fact that there was no discussion with members in deciding such a critical issue as closure is the height of arbitrariness and lack of communication." They warned, "The closure of Seoul Baek Hospital will lead to a gap in essential medical services in downtown Seoul and the absence of public medical functions."

On the 20th, when the board meeting regarding the closure of Seoul Baek Hospital was held, employees opposing the closure were holding placards at Baek Hospital in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

However, with Seoul City announcing on the same day that it will push to prohibit land use changes on the Baek Hospital site, considerable conflicts are expected until the actual closure. Seoul City holds the position that since Baek Hospital is the only university hospital in Jung-gu, its functions must be maintained to prevent a medical service gap in the city center. The local government, Jung-gu Office, also sent an official letter urging Seoul Baek Hospital not to close.

Seoul City stated it is considering designating the Baek Hospital site as an urban planning facility (comprehensive medical facility) to prevent land use changes. This is to ensure no medical service gaps occur in the area. The city plans to immediately carry out necessary procedures such as public notice and urban planning committee review. In addition to Seoul Baek Hospital, Seoul City is also considering designating four other general hospitals located in the city center?Seoul National University Hospital, Red Cross Hospital, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, and Seran Hospital?as urban planning facilities.

The background behind Inje Foundation's decision to close Baek Hospital appears to be influenced by the Ministry of Education's relaxation measures allowing private school foundations to convert idle assets into profit-making uses. The Baek Hospital site in Jeodong, Jung-gu, is located in the heart of the city and close to Myeongdong, making the commercial value of the hospital land significant. Accordingly, Seoul City plans to request the Ministry of Education to prohibit sales or land use changes for general hospital sites. Inje Foundation stated that decisions regarding the operation of the Baek Hospital site and buildings will be made through separate discussions in the future.

Meanwhile, before Seoul Baek Hospital, other general hospitals in Seoul such as Jung-gu Jeil Hospital (2021), Dongdaemun-gu St. Paul Hospital (2019), and Chung-Ang University Yongsan Hospital (2011) have closed.