Gwangju City and City Council Urge Prompt Establishment of 'National Cerebrovascular Center'

Joint Statement by Mayor Lee Yong-seop and Chairman Kim Yong-jip

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Gwangju Metropolitan City and the Gwangju Metropolitan Council have urged the prompt establishment of the "National Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Center."

On the afternoon of the 1st, Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop and Gwangju Council Chairman Kim Yong-jip issued a joint statement, expressing hope that the establishment of the "National Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease Center" will proceed at a normal pace with a sense of urgency.

They stated, "The establishment of the 'National Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Center,' a long-standing project for the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions, was adopted as a cooperative pledge between Gwangju and Jeonnam in the 100 national tasks along with the Moon Jae-in administration's five-year national policy plan in July 2017. Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases account for 24.3% of the causes of death among Korean citizens, representing the cause of death for 1 in 5 deceased individuals. With population aging, medical treatment and care involve enormous social and economic costs, and these diseases are the biggest factors that instantly reduce the quality of life of the people," they explained.

They continued, "To address these issues, urgent national-level research through the establishment of the National Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Center, along with prevention and management measures, is necessary. The planned site for the National Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Center in Jangseong-gun Nano Industrial Complex is located within the Gwangju Research and Development Special Zone and is adjacent to Chonnam National University Hospital, Chosun University Hospital, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Korea Photonics Technology Institute, Korea Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Stent Research Institute, Nano Bio Center, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, and Gwangju Technopark. Given this abundant related infrastructure, it is evaluated as the optimal location for establishing a research institute," they emphasized.

Furthermore, they explained, "If the National Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Center is established in the Gwangju Research and Development Special Zone, it will not only promote public health but also become a hub for the win-win new growth engine of Gwangju and Jeonnam. The synergy effect between the Nano Industrial Complex and the Gwangju Research and Development Special Zone is expected to lead to a model of ultra-regional cooperative projects."

They added, "Since the Ministry of Health and Welfare has reflected 4.4 billion KRW of national funds in the 2021 budget, including detailed design costs and land acquisition costs along with the feasibility basic plan for the establishment of the National Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Center, we hope that the establishment of the 'National Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease Center' will proceed at a normal pace with a sense of urgency."

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