"Geochang County Directly Refutes Reports Overlooking Local Healthcare"

Geochang County has issued an official rebuttal regarding the controversy surrounding the relocation and construction project of Geochang Red Cross Hospital in South Gyeongsang Province.

The county expressed regret over recent local media reports, stating that they reflected a "distorted perspective that failed to fully account for the purpose and procedures of the project."

Namyeol Lee, Geochang County's Strategy Officer, stressed in his opinion piece on the 25th that "the Geochang medical area, which includes Geochang, Hamyang, and Hapcheon, is the only medically underserved region in the country without a general hospital," emphasizing that "the relocation of the Red Cross Hospital is a core project directly linked to securing essential medical services for the region."

[Photo by Geochang County] Geochang County Office Jeonggyeong Photo

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According to the county, the project has been promoted through an agreement with the Korean Red Cross in 2023, with responsibilities divided such that Geochang County is in charge of site development and the Red Cross is responsible for the hospital relocation. Subsequently, the project was selected as a candidate for a preliminary feasibility study, and the procedures are currently underway.

The county especially addressed concerns raised about procedural issues and the project's feasibility, explaining that "during the preliminary feasibility study, factors such as medical conditions, bed capacity, funding sources, and the project structure are already being comprehensively reviewed," and that "site acquisition and administrative procedures are also proceeding in accordance with the relevant standards."

The request for cooperation from the political sphere continued as well. Officer Lee stated, "The issues of regional extinction and medical care are tasks that must be addressed jointly beyond parties and vested interests," adding, "bipartisan cooperation is needed to resolve the region’s most pressing issues."

He also pointed out, "Media reports lack concrete alternatives or directions necessary for project implementation," and emphasized, "There needs to be a discussion on what the local community must do to ensure the project passes the preliminary feasibility review."

Meanwhile, Geochang County plans to make every effort to persuade the central government and build local consensus in the future, recognizing that this project is directly tied to the region’s survival and goes beyond the mere expansion of medical facilities.

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