Seoul National University Hospital to Operate National Fire Hospital Opening in 2025 Under Commission

From the left, Lee Heung-gyo, Commissioner of the Fire Department, and Kim Yeon-su, Director of Seoul National University Hospital.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] Seoul National University Hospital announced on the 20th that it has signed a consignment contract with the Fire Agency for the management and operation of the National Fire Hospital. The contract period is five years.

The National Fire Hospital is a general hospital dedicated to the systematic treatment, education, and research of firefighters. It is being built in Maengdong-myeon, Eumseong-gun, Chungbuk, an innovation city, with four centers and one research institute (total floor area of 39,755㎡). It is scheduled to open in June 2025, with 19 medical departments and approximately 302 beds.

Seoul National University Hospital presented four visions to ensure that the National Fire Hospital can contribute to the development of fire medicine and securing medical publicness: ▲ a hospital trusted by firefighters through top-level medical services ▲ a hospital leading fire medicine research and policy ▲ a future-oriented hospital driving medical advancement ▲ a hospital enhancing medical accessibility.

To this end, Seoul National University Hospital plans to provide top-level medical services and lead specialized fire medicine treatment and policy research through education and research on diseases related to the unique duties of firefighters.

It is also expected to contribute to resolving regional medical gaps by strengthening essential medical accessibility in the central Chungbuk areas of Eumseong, Jincheon, Jeungpyeong, and Goesan counties, which are medical blind spots.

Kim Yeon-su, director of Seoul National University Hospital, said, "This achievement is the result of close cooperation over a long period from the early stages between Seoul National University Hospital and the Fire Agency to successfully promote the establishment of the National Fire Hospital," adding, "We will do our best to build a medical safety net so that the National Fire Hospital can become a hospital 'trusted and visited by firefighters' and a hospital that 'resolves medical gaps for local residents.'"

Lee Heung-kyo, head of the Fire Agency, said, "We appreciate Seoul National University Hospital's support and decision to entrust the operation of the National Fire Hospital," and added, "The Fire Agency will actively support the operation to ensure that the National Fire Hospital project, which cares for the health of firefighters and local residents, proceeds without any setbacks."

Previously, since 2020, Seoul National University Hospital has closely cooperated with the Fire Agency and Chungcheongbuk-do through a memorandum of understanding for the establishment of the National Fire Hospital, including the establishment of operation plans and design preparation stages. In March, Seoul National University Hospital applied for the consignment operation of the National Fire Hospital management and operation, and was selected as the preferred consignment operator in April.

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