Jeonnam National University Hospital Development Support Association Surpasses 15 Billion KRW in Cumulative Donations After 20 Years

Jeonnam National University Hospital Exterior.

Jeonnam National University Hospital announced on January 12 that its Development Support Association has surpassed a cumulative donation total of 15 billion KRW.

The total cumulative donations received by the Jeonnam National University Hospital Development Support Association have reached 15.4 billion KRW. Of this, 3.9 billion KRW has been used to support medical expenses for low-income patients, as well as for research, education, and facility expansion. The remaining donation balance currently stands at 11.5 billion KRW.

In the past year alone, donations exceeding 1.9 billion KRW were collected, marking the highest annual achievement to date and setting a new milestone in the region's culture of giving. This significant accomplishment comes 20 years after the association’s founding in 2005 and is especially meaningful as it represents the shared outcome of the hospital and the local community coming together in generosity.

In particular, the donations collected in 2025 alone exceeded 1.9 billion KRW, recording the largest amount for a single year since the establishment of the Development Support Association. This figure includes designated donations from the Gwangju Community Chest of Korea and the Gwangju-Jeonnam branch of the Korean Red Cross, as well as in-kind contributions such as ophthalmic examination equipment and cardiac defibrillators that are directly used in patient care, thereby having a tangible impact on improving the medical environment.

The scale of donations has been rising sharply in recent years. While the average annual donation amount was around 500 million KRW in the early years, it more than tripled to 1.5 billion KRW in 2021. Following the appointment of Hospital Director Jeong Shin, the amount reached 1.6 billion KRW in 2024 and surpassed 1.9 billion KRW in 2025, setting new records for consecutive years. This is seen as a result of the hospital’s strengthened role as a regional public medical institution and the trust in its operations translating into increased support.

The donations are primarily used to support medical expenses for vulnerable groups, providing hope to patients who had to delay or forgo treatment due to financial hardship. In addition, the funds are utilized for various initiatives to enhance the future competitiveness of the hospital, such as improving the medical environment and introducing advanced medical equipment at the main hospital and its branches, including Hwasun Jeonnam National University Hospital, Jeonnam National University Dental Hospital, Bitgoeul Jeonnam National University Hospital, and Jeonnam National University Children’s Hospital, as well as expanding research and educational facilities.

Park Heungseok, Chairman of the Development Support Association and CEO of Lucky Industry, stated, "Over the past 20 years, the trust and generosity shown by local residents and donors have enabled us to achieve the meaningful milestone of 15 billion KRW in cumulative donations. Going forward, the Development Support Association will continue to fulfill its responsibility to ensure that donations are used in the most valuable way possible for patients, medical staff, and the community."

Jeong Shin, Director of Jeonnam National University Hospital, remarked, "The remarkable growth of the Development Support Association reaffirms the direction Jeonnam National University Hospital must pursue as a leading public medical institution in the region. Based on the donors’ invaluable intentions, we will further expand support for vulnerable groups, strengthen research, education, and advanced medical infrastructure, and strive to become a hospital that creates value for the future of healthcare."