Jeonnam Province, Wings to Foster National Advanced Medical Infrastructure Industry

Jeonnam Province announced on the 1st that the establishment of the National Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Research Institute in Jangseong, with a budget of 100 billion won, has been confirmed, completing the three major pillars of the national health care infrastructure industry alongside the Chungbuk Osong Life Science Complex and the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Advanced Medical Complex.

Cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, cerebral infarction, myocardial infarction, and angina, are the leading cause of death worldwide. In South Korea, heart disease ranks second after cancer, and cerebrovascular disease ranks fourth, with social and economic costs reaching 20 trillion won as of 2015 due to an aging population.

For this reason, countries like the United States have the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and Japan has the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, but South Korea lacked a dedicated research and management organization.

Accordingly, Jeonnam Province has continuously advocated to central government agencies since 2007 through feasibility studies and forums on the necessity and urgency of establishing the institute.

With the support of the residents, the “Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease Control Act” was enacted in 2016, and the project was included in the presidential regional balanced development pledge in 2018.

In 2020, the Ministry of Health and Welfare outlined the feasibility and basic plan for establishing the National Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Center.

In the same year, after the transfer to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and an increase in project funds, the project faced critical challenges such as a complete review, but due to continuous demands from the local community and meetings and proposals by Governor Kim Young-rok of Jeonnam to the agency head, the project’s feasibility was re-examined, and the institute’s establishment was confirmed in July after 16 years.

The National Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Research Institute will be established as a national research institution with a total budget of 100.1 billion won fully funded by the national government, on approximately 19,800 square meters in Nam-myeon, Jangseong.

With 2.5 billion won secured last year, basic surveys and designs have been completed, and land acquisition and construction will begin in earnest in 2024, aiming for completion in 2029.

There were many twists and turns before the center’s location was finalized as the Jangseong Nano Industrial Complex.

Chungbuk Osong, where the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the National Institute of Health are located, is a life science complex densely populated with national research institutions, which was a disadvantage for Jeonnam.

Jeonnam Province emphasized that the Jangseong Nano Industrial Complex is also located within the Gwangju Research and Development Special Zone and is home to 186 research institutions including Chonnam National University Hospital, Chosun University Hospital, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Jeonnam Nano Bio Research Center, and Korea Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Stent Research Institute, making it easy to connect and collaborate with research facilities, which led to successful attraction.

The National Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Research Institute will serve as ▲the command headquarters consolidating national cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease research and development (R&D) capabilities ▲a generator of innovative research outcomes addressing current and future issues ▲a national research institution enhancing the public value of national resources by establishing and expanding research infrastructure utilization.

By establishing a cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease prevention and management system, it is expected to alleviate related medical expenses, secure basic research capabilities, and revitalize the advanced medical industry. Additionally, with the entry into a super-aged society, it will play a dedicated role in supporting national prevention, management, response, and overcoming research on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

According to a study by the Korea Development Institute, the institute is expected to create employment for about 12,500 people in the future and serve as a hub that generates synergy effects of regional vitality and population inflow through collaboration with local universities, hospitals, and companies.

Governor Kim Young-rok of Jeonnam said, “The National Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Research Institute will serve as a catalyst to gradually develop the advanced medical industry and is expected to form one of the three major pillars of the national health care infrastructure industry, alongside the Chungbuk Osong Life Science Complex and the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Advanced Medical Complex, driving the medical industry.” He added, “We will provide full support to ensure it achieves global competitiveness and stands shoulder to shoulder with advanced medical countries.”

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