Yoon Visits Jeju National University Hospital: "Support for Designation as a Tertiary Hospital Soon"

Yoon Meets Cancer Ward Patients at Jeju National University Hospital to Encourage
"No Tertiary Hospital in Jeju, Doesn't Make Sense"

President Yoon Suk-yeol is greeting before a meeting with medical staff at Jeju National University Hospital in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province on the 15th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol visited Jeju National University Hospital on the afternoon of the 15th to encourage the medical staff and said, "We will actively support Jeju National University Hospital to be designated as a tertiary general hospital as soon as possible," according to a written briefing by Presidential Spokesperson Jung Hye-jeon.

Upon arriving at the hospital that day, President Yoon visited the third-floor cancer ward under the guidance of Choi Guk-myeong, director of Jeju National University Hospital. Jeju National University Hospital operates as a 'regional emergency medical center' with facilities including a regional emergency medical center, regional cancer center, neonatal intensive care unit, and a regional cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease center.

President Yoon asked cancer patient Kim Young-jin (72), who was hospitalized for third-round chemotherapy, questions such as "How often do you come for treatment?" and "How many days do you stay hospitalized?" and encouraged him by saying, "I hope you receive your treatment well."

He then stated, "Among residential conditions, the most important and essential parts are education and medical care," adding, "No matter where one lives, access to essential critical medical care must be guaranteed."

He emphasized, "It is unreasonable that Jeju Island does not have a tertiary general hospital," and said, "We will actively support Jeju National University Hospital to be designated as a tertiary general hospital as soon as possible."

In response, Director Choi said, "We are experiencing severe financial deficits due to difficulties in securing medical personnel caused by regional limitations, COVID-19, and the departure of residents," adding, "It is worrisome how long we can sustain this situation, but it is reassuring to hear such words from the President."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is holding a meeting with hospital director Choi Guk-young and other hospital officials at Jeju National University Hospital in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province on the 15th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim Woo-jung, the head of medical affairs, mentioned the expansion of the multipurpose education and medical building as an important issue for Jeju National University Hospital, requesting support by saying, "Although it is an essential project tailored to Jeju Island's diverse medical conditions, the hospital's financial burden has significantly increased due to changes in the budget scale approved by the Ministry of Education in 2021."

President Yoon instructed Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong, who accompanied him, to "review and proceed quickly as appropriate personnel are also needed for the designation as a tertiary general hospital."

Additionally, Park Kyung-gi, director of the Jeju Regional Cancer Center, said, "Support is needed to replace the aging equipment of the cancer center at the appropriate time," to which President Yoon asked his aides to actively take care of the related matters.

President Yoon said, "We will accelerate the establishment of a regionally self-sufficient medical system," and urged Minister Cho and Jang Sang-yoon, Senior Secretary for Social Affairs at the Presidential Office, "to speed up the designation of Jeju National University Hospital as a tertiary general hospital as soon as possible."

After the meeting, when a patient he met in the lobby said, "Please prevent patients from Jeju from having to go all the way to Seoul," President Yoon replied, "That is why I came here," and said, "Do not worry."

Minister Cho, Presidential Policy Chief Seong Tae-yoon, and Senior Secretary for Social Affairs Jang Sang-yoon accompanied the President on the site visit that day.