Governor Dongyeon Kim: "Public Medical Centers Cannot Be Solved by Economic Logic, Will Mobilize Every Possible Means"

Governor Dongyeon Kim Accelerates Push for Innovative Public Medical Center in Yangju
Aims to Address Healthcare Gaps in Northern Gyeonggi
Seeks Pre-Feasibility Study Exemption from Central Government
Part of the Northern Gyeonggi Grand Remodeling Project;
Plans for 300-Bed Facility Underway

Gyeonggi Province Governor Dongyeon Kim announced plans to accelerate the promotion of an innovative public medical center to be built in Okjeong New Town, Yangju, in order to address the medical service gap in northern Gyeonggi.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Dongyeon Kim announced on the 26th that he will accelerate the promotion of an innovative public medical center to be built in Okjeong New Town, Yangju, to address the medical service gap in northern Gyeonggi. Photo by Jonggu Lee

On the 26th, Governor Kim visited the site designated for the comprehensive medical facility in Okjeong New Town, Yangju, and stated, "We will establish a public medical center here in Yangju to provide seamless public medical services to residents in northern Gyeonggi," adding, "I will mobilize every possible means to ensure that construction begins as quickly as possible."

According to Gyeonggi Province, out of 68 general hospitals in the province, 49 are located in the southern region, including six tertiary hospitals. In contrast, the northern region has only 19 general hospitals and not a single tertiary hospital. As a result, the average life expectancy in major northern areas is nearly three years lower than the provincial average (84.1 years), and the mortality rate from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases is also higher than the national average.

Governor Kim pointed out, "300,000 Yangju citizens and another 1 million people in nearby areas are left in a public healthcare blind spot," and added, "While the state is responsible for police and fire services, medical services have been unfairly discriminated against based on income or region."

The innovative public medical center will be built on a site of approximately 26,400 square meters, with more than 300 beds. The total project cost is about 159.1 billion won, and it will be carried out as a private investment project (BTL, Build-Transfer-Lease).

A feasibility study is currently underway, and once the results are available in February next year, the province plans to apply to the Ministry of Health and Welfare for a preliminary feasibility study (pre-feasibility study).

Governor Dongyeon Kim has declared a "speed battle." The innovative public medical center in Yangju aims to begin construction by 2030. After the results of the study are released around February next year, the project must undergo a pre-feasibility study based on those findings.

Governor Kim explained in detail, "There are three major steps before we can break ground on the medical center. The study is proceeding smoothly, the pre-feasibility study takes about a year and a half, and the BTL (private investment) process takes about three and a half years, so altogether, it will take five years."

He emphasized, "The pre-feasibility study is based on a cost-benefit analysis, but you don't need a pre-feasibility study to build a police station or a fire station. The way to shorten this period as much as possible is either to get an exemption from the pre-feasibility study or to expedite the process."

He continued, "When I was Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, my last act was to exempt two projects per province from the pre-feasibility study. Recently, I also discussed improving the pre-feasibility study system with former Deputy Prime Minister Yooncheol Koo. If we receive an exemption, it could shorten the timeline by about one to one and a half years."

Gyeonggi Province Governor Dongyeon Kim announced on the 26th that he will accelerate the promotion of an innovative public medical center to be built in Okjeong New Town, Yangju, to address the medical service gap in northern Gyeonggi. Photo by Jonggu Lee

Governor Kim stated, "There is still a long way to go. I will make every effort to pass the pre-feasibility study, and if necessary, I will propose improvements to the system and actively consider an exemption, working in close consultation with the central government."

The new public medical center is being recognized as "innovative" for integrating both "medical care and caregiving." Governor Dongyeon Kim said, "Public healthcare cannot be run on a commercial basis or like a private hospital, but in line with its innovative nature, we are considering various institutional improvements. In addition to existing medical services, we will also cover the increasing demand for caregiving and new medical services. We will also innovate operational efficiency and create a new model for public medical centers in Korea, right here in Yangju. We will make northern Gyeonggi a place where people and businesses gather and where people truly live."

As Governor Dongyeon Kim outlined, the Yangju public medical center will expand its role beyond basic medical services to include caregiving, equipping itself with comprehensive functions to respond to infectious disease crises and prepare for an aging population.

The center will also innovate through groundbreaking digitalization, stronger partnerships with university hospitals, and expanded training for essential medical personnel. The province plans to significantly improve operational efficiency by introducing private hospital management techniques, a cloud-based IT system, and expanding collaboration with local partner hospitals and health centers.

In September last year, Governor Dongyeon Kim held a press conference to announce the "Northern Gyeonggi Grand Remodeling Project," unveiling the ambitious plan for an innovative public medical center as part of efforts to expand infrastructure in northern Gyeonggi. The "Establishment of a Public Medical Center in Northeastern Gyeonggi" is also a key pledge of the 8th popularly elected Gyeonggi provincial administration.

Governor Dongyeon Kim reiterated, "Public healthcare cannot be solved by commercial logic," and pledged, "We will create a new model for innovative public medical centers in Yangju that improves operational efficiency and encompasses caregiving and new medical services."