KUMC's Vision for the Future: Unveiling the 2028 Hospital

"I will continue the challenges that no one in the medical field has attempted, and strive to make KUMC an unprecedented healthcare institution anywhere in the world."

Yoon Eul-sik, the 17th Director of KUMC, expressed his determination to lead as a First Mover in innovation.

KUMC held a press conference on 27th, where they shared the hospital's achievements and future plans. Director Yoon Eul-sik, hospital directors and key officials had participated.

"KUMC aims to achieve goals including strengthening the infrastructure for severe chronic diseases, establishing a patient-centered smart hospital, and leaping as a leading research-oriented medical institution." Director Yoon Eul-sik added, "I hope you continue to observe the unwavering commitment of KUMC to innovation and change.

KUMC's external R&D contract amount showed a steep annual growth rate of 13%, reaching 150 billion won last year. Notably, the performance of the medical technology holding company is commendable, with royalties reaching close to 30 billion won, as they transfer the original technologies developed by faculty members to external institutions.

Moreover, KUMC announced plans to invest approximately 120 billion won over the next four years in research infrastructure and incentives. This investment aims not only to provide research and development opportunities for faculty members but also to inject vitality into the industry by collaborating with numerous bio-companies.

KUMC affiliated hospitals such as Anam, Guro, and Ansan hospitals will also contribute to the advancement of the medical center with renewed features.

Firstly, Anam Hospital plans to establish a new patient-centered hospital culture through remodeled main building.

According to Director Han Seung-beom, "To overcome several issues such as long waiting times in university hospitals, we have created relaxation spaces, including a rooftop garden." He added, "Moreover by improving the treatment process to be quick and convenient, it has allowed individuals to receive notifications about their treatment order anytime, anywhere through a smartphone app."

Last September, Guro Hospital successfully initiated the system reorganization by opening a new specialized hospital for severe diseases. This involved relocating departments for relatively mild symptoms and expanding spaces of the hospital into core facilities for treating severe diseases.

According to these plans, Guro Hospital recently expanded the operating rooms, opened a cardiovascular intensive care unit. Also, the hospital had enhanced the multidisciplinary collaboration with related departments such as pediatric cardiology and vascular surgery to strengthen the system for treating severe diseases.

Director Jung Hee-jin stated, "For over 40 years, Korea University Guro Hospital has been improving various systems as time passes by." She also emphasized that as a super-aged society, the treatment of severe diseases became even more critical. Therefore, they are continuously considering how to respond promptly to this, while also enhancing medical services for the medically vulnerable population.

Ansan Hospital is also in the midst of a transformation. The ongoing construction includes expanding the Future Medicine Building by three floors and establishing a three-story underground parking lot. Future plans involve completion of the construction of new buildings, an education/research center, and separate buildings for specialized purposes such as the cancer hospital and severe disease treatment.

Furthermore, it is expected that various high-tech systems, such as biosensing and intravenous fluid management monitoring systems, will be implemented.

Director Kwon Soon-yong and leading Director Seo Dong-hoon, head of the medical department at Ansan Hospital, stated, "Ansan Hospital is at a point where it wants to grow bigger based on the capabilities it has steadily built up." He emphasized, "Especially considering the high number of multicultural families and medically underserved populations in the region, we will make every effort to establish medical services for them and become a robustly growing hospital in the local community."

There are also support forces that will create synergy with the three affiliated hospitals. This includes the newly opened Cheongdam Goyoung Campus and the Jeongneung Medi Science Park.

Cheongdam Goyoung Campus operates various educational programs for faculties. Moreover, its Clinical Research Support Division supports the overseas expansion of domestic medical devices. Healthcare development companies conduct research to strengthen the medical devices as well.

Medi Science Park is initiating active development in the domestic bio-industry by developing new drugs and medical devices. Additionally, the construction of an Innovation Vaccine Center is underway to address emerging infectious diseases, raising expectations that it will serve as a forefront base for vaccine development and therefore enhancing South Korea's medical reputation.

In 2028, in celebration of Korea University School of Medicine's 100th anniversary, plans include opening a fourth hospital in Cheongdam and Namyangju.

The Future Hospital is described as a completely new hospital, never seen before through history. Not only patient treatments, it collaborates with local medical institutions to contribute to regional economic development as well. Internally, it will establish a patient-centered hospital culture based on the medical center's self-developed ‘cloud information system’. This system allows free exchange of medical data through different hospitals, enabling patients to conveniently receive treatment at any hospital under the medical center. Moreover, the plan involves building a top-notch research infrastructure, creating an environment where bio-companies can freely engage in research and development, thus contributing to the growth of the domestic biomedical industry.

Recognizing the intensifying issue of a shortage of medical personnel, especially doctors, the plan emphasizes the proper establishment of a talent management system. This includes conducting detailed education for young doctors, improving conditions for clinical professors, and creating an environment where all faculty members, not just essential medical departments, can work with pride.

Director Yoon Eul-sik stated, "Based on the 'select and focus' strategy, we will concentrate on the unique values and roles that only KUMC can create. Through the Future Hospital, scheduled to be realized in 2028, we aim to inform the world, both domestically and internationally, of the changing role of hospitals in the future era, ensuring that the capabilities of Korea University Medical Center are recognized globally."

Furthermore, KUMC plans to continuously provide platforms for communication with the media from now on. By sharing detailed updates on the progress of the announced hospital plans, it aims to showcase reliable strides toward the Future Hospital.