Gangnam Severance Celebrates 40th Anniversary Next Year, Unveils 'New Hospital Construction' Blueprint

Step-by-Step Construction Without Hospital Operation Interruption
Gangnam's First 'Urban Smart Hospital' Flagship
"We Will Create Value Beyond 'The Best'"

Song Young-gu, director of Gangnam Severance Hospital, is announcing the plan to build a new hospital on the 12th.
[Photo by Gangnam Severance Hospital]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Yonsei University Gangnam Severance Hospital, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary next year, has finalized a phased plan for its long-awaited new hospital construction project and announced a blueprint to establish the first 'urban smart hospital' in the Gangnam area of Seoul.

On the 12th, Song Young-gu, director of Gangnam Severance Hospital, said at a press conference, "Since taking root in Gangnam in 1983, when medical infrastructure was lacking, we have led the area to become the region providing the highest level of medical services in Korea," adding, "We will create the value of 'Beyond the Best' by building an 'urban smart hospital' that maximizes efficiency through the harmony of information and communication technology and artificial intelligence."

New Hospital Construction to Proceed in Phases Without Interrupting Hospital Operations

The new hospital construction project at Gangnam Severance Hospital has literally gone through many twists and turns. Although several remodelings and expansions were undertaken to improve the environment, the nearly 40-year-old facility had reached its limits. As it grew into a central hospital in Gangnam with up to 4,000 outpatients per day, space shortages caused significant inconvenience for patients and their guardians visiting the hospital.

The newly revealed project plan for Gangnam Severance Hospital’s new building involves a phased approach using the current site without halting hospital operations. Divided into phases 0 to 3, the plan aims to overcome spatial constraints caused by construction and provide stable medical services throughout the construction period. Phase 0, preceding the main hospital building construction, focuses on securing alternative parking lots as the foundation for the new hospital. An underground parking structure will be built at the rear of the hospital, and partial usage rights of nearby educational institution parking lots will be acquired to offer parking convenience to hospital visitors.

In the main Phase 1 project, a vertically concentrated building will be constructed as the core of the new hospital. Planned to be 16 stories above ground and 80 meters tall, this building will establish a severity-centered medical system vertically linking the emergency department, outpatient department, surgery department, and wards. Upon completion around 2026?2027, all current hospital functions will be relocated to this building before proceeding to Phase 2. Phase 2 involves horizontally expanding by connecting a new building on the site of the demolished existing Buildings 2 and 3 to the main building. This expanded space will house outpatient clinics and enable smoother medical services in a larger area. The final Phase 3 will remodel the most recently constructed existing Building 1 to serve as support space for the new hospital. Once all construction is completed, the hospital will function as a state-of-the-art facility spanning a total of 216,500 square meters. The final completion is expected by 2030.

Aerial view of the new Gangnam Severance Hospital building. [Photo by Gangnam Severance Hospital]

Blueprint for a Smarter 'Urban Smart Hospital'

The new hospital will feature cutting-edge design elements symbolizing future healthcare, establishing itself as a new landmark in Gangnam. Moving away from the rigid exterior style of the existing hospital, the design emphasizes softness and incorporates ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management trends by introducing exterior materials that reduce carbon emissions and building various renewable energy infrastructures.

To ensure a safe walking environment for patients and visitors, a pick-up and drop-off zone will be created underground, and landscaping connected to the green corridor of Dogok Neighborhood Park will be installed above ground, creating an eco-friendly urban forest that serves as a healing space loved by patients, staff, and local residents alike. Inside the hospital, spaces will be designed to enhance openness, improving outpatient treatment and waiting experiences, and an LED media wall will be installed to facilitate diverse information delivery.

Additionally, in preparation for future infectious disease outbreaks, the design incorporates separate pathways for patients, medical staff, and visitors in wards and outpatient areas, as well as elevator usage plans. To quickly respond to medical changes, reserve spaces will be secured to facilitate easy departmental expansion plans. A logistics system using unmanned transport robots (AGVs) will be introduced to improve medical staff work efficiency. In anticipation of the commercialization of Urban Air Mobility (UAM), a promising future transportation mode, a helipad will be constructed on the building rooftop.

Alongside the new hospital construction, Gangnam Severance Hospital plans to establish a responsible management system to enhance management efficiency and performance and accelerate preparations to become a research-centered hospital. Director Song emphasized, "We will strive to fulfill our social responsibilities through unwavering progress in the new hospital construction project," adding, "By fostering an organizational culture that empathizes and moves together based on shared vision and goals, we will use this as the driving force for the new hospital construction project."

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