National Medical Center Begins Full-Scale Relocation to Former US Army Corps of Engineers Site in Bangsan-dong

Seoul City and Ministry of Health and Welfare Sign MOU on 1st for New Construction and Relocation of Medical Center
Detailed Plans to Be Developed by November... Strengthening Public Healthcare for Infectious Disease Response

On the 7th, citizens wearing masks are walking at the screening clinic of the National Medical Center in Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The relocation of the National Medical Center to the US Army Corps of Engineers site, proposed by Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, will be in full swing starting at the end of this year.

On the afternoon of the 1st, Seoul City and the Ministry of Health and Welfare signed a memorandum of understanding at the National Medical Center to build and relocate the medical center to the US Army Corps of Engineers site.

This memorandum of understanding was realized following Mayor Park Won-soon's proposal on April 28th, stating, "To enhance South Korea's infectious disease response capabilities beyond Seoul, a bold decision is needed to promote the establishment of a central infectious disease hospital in the shortest possible time," suggesting the government consider relocating the National Medical Center from Wonji-dong, Seocho-gu to the US Army Corps of Engineers site in Bangsan-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul.

Seoul City and the Ministry of Health and Welfare had been working to build and relocate the National Medical Center to Wonji-dong, Seocho-gu, but faced difficulties in the relocation discussions due to issues such as noise from the nearby Gyeongbu Expressway, restrictions on land use because the surrounding area is designated as a development-restricted zone, and inconvenient transportation for patients.

With the signing of the memorandum of understanding on this day, the two institutions will cooperate for the construction and relocation of the National Medical Center. The Ministry of Health and Welfare will promote the construction and relocation of the medical center in consultation with related government departments, and Seoul City will actively support the sale of the current medical center site and the purchase of the US Army Corps of Engineers site through changes in urban management plans.

In particular, since both parties agreed to prepare detailed plans for the construction and relocation of the medical center by the end of November this year, related procedures such as land sale and purchase are expected to proceed in earnest after the end of the year.

Mayor Park Won-soon said, "With the signing of this memorandum of understanding, the relocation of the National Medical Center to the US Army Corps of Engineers site and the establishment of a central infectious disease specialized hospital will be actively promoted, marking an end to the relocation issue of the National Medical Center that has been drifting for the past 17 years," and added, "I am grateful that the government made a bold decision in response to Seoul City's proposal." He also added, "I expect that the National Medical Center will protect the health of 25 million metropolitan citizens, half of the population, by enhancing infectious disease response and treatment capabilities as a public hospital at the center of the nation."

Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo said, "The National Medical Center has played an important role in protecting the health and safety of the people in various fields, including transferring severe patients and operating the Central Clinical Committee during the COVID-19 situation," and added, "I hope this will be an opportunity for the National Medical Center to leap forward as the central institution of public health care in Korea and that the construction of a central infectious disease specialized hospital will further strengthen Korea's infectious disease response capabilities."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.