Chonnam National University Hospital Posts Two Consecutive Years of Deficits Amid Prolonged Legislative Conflict

Four Consecutive Half-Year Losses
Total Deficit Reaches 115.5 Billion Won

As legislative conflicts enter a prolonged phase, concerns are growing over the potential collapse of essential regional healthcare, with Chonnam National University Hospital recording deficits for over two years.

According to data submitted by Kim Moonsoo, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea representing Suncheon-gap, South Jeolla Province, on September 17, Chonnam National University Hospital posted losses for four consecutive half-year periods from the second half of 2023 through the first half of this year.

Until the first half of 2023, the hospital had a net profit of 1.6 billion won, but it swung to a loss of 24.4 billion won in the second half. In the first half of last year, it recorded a loss of 35.6 billion won, followed by a loss of 32.1 billion won in the second half.

In the first half of this year as well, the hospital posted a loss of 23.4 billion won, with the average half-yearly loss over the past two years amounting to 28.9 billion won.

Key indicators reflecting the hospital's overall operations, such as bed occupancy rates and the number of surgeries, have also declined across the board.

From the second half of 2023 to the first half of this year, the bed occupancy rate dropped by 32 percentage points at the main hospital, 30 percentage points at the Hwasun branch, and 66 percentage points at the Bitgoeul branch.

During the same period, the total number of surgeries decreased by 45%, from 15,405 to 8,482. Outpatient visits also fell by 20%, from 755,032 to 601,596.

The number of inpatients dropped by 36%, from 268,548 in the second half of 2023 to 170,208 in the first half of this year.

Assemblyman Kim stated, "The conflict over increasing medical school admissions has led to the departure of residents and fellows, significantly weakening the surgery and inpatient functions of university hospitals." He emphasized, "Considering that Chonnam National University Hospital serves as a medical safety net for residents of Gwangju and South Jeolla Province, this is not merely a management issue but a warning sign for the entire essential regional healthcare system."

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