Im Miran, Gwangju City Council Member, Expresses Concern Over Local Medical Tourism Industry Competitiveness

Gwangju Medical Tourism Support Center Criticized for 'Contract Termination'

Im Miran, Gwangju City Council Member

Im Miran, a member of the Gwangju Metropolitan Council (Democratic Party, Nam-gu 2), stated on the 5th during the administrative audit of Gwangju City, “Gwangju City recently unilaterally notified the termination of the private consignment of the Medical Tourism Support Center,” and added, “This raises serious concerns about the sustainability and competitiveness of Gwangju’s medical tourism industry.”

Councilor Im pointed out the background and issues regarding Gwangju City’s notification of termination despite more than one year remaining on the consignment period of the Medical Tourism Support Center, and demanded a careful reconsideration of the decision to terminate the consignment.

She emphasized that the Gwangju Medical Tourism Support Center has played a key role in regional medical tourism since 2017, including attracting foreign patients, promoting medical tourism, and training specialized personnel. She expressed concern that the city’s unilateral termination notice without sufficient prior discussion has placed Gwangju’s medical tourism industry in a serious crisis.

In particular, she criticized, “Last year, the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s ‘Regional Specialized Foreign Patient Attraction Project’ was ended one year early due to budget circumstances, resulting in reduced center funding and downsized personnel. In this situation, Gwangju City’s notification of termination of the support center’s consignment without adequate countermeasures is effectively abandoning medical tourism.”

She also pointed out that despite the scheduled expansion of international flights at Muan Airport and the opening of the Honam High-Speed Railway Muan Airport Station, Gwangju is neglecting medical tourism by not utilizing the necessary infrastructure to attract foreigners.

Councilor Im urged, “The Gwangju medical tourism industry is a high value-added industry that revitalizes the local economy and enhances the city’s image as an important growth engine. Reconsider the termination of the Medical Tourism Support Center’s consignment and establish practical and long-term measures for the sustainable development of Gwangju’s medical tourism industry.”

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