It was reported on the 20th that the Seoul Metropolitan Government has not been able to start the construction of the 'Seoul-type public hospital,' which was aimed to be completed next year, for more than three years. Out of a total budget of 400 billion won, half, 200 billion won, was set aside from the national budget, but securing this funding has become challenging.
The government has judged that it cannot support the budget for building another hospital since there are already large hospitals in the four districts of southeastern Seoul where the hospital is to be located. Consequently, there are concerns that the Seoul Metropolitan Government pushed forward the project with funding that was uncertain.
◇Seoul-type public hospital unable to start construction for third year
The Seoul Metropolitan Government revealed its plan to establish a public hospital in 2022. This was to address the issues related to public medical facilities that became apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. At that time, there was criticism that there was no facility to serve as a 'medical control tower' in the event of a disaster such as an infectious disease like COVID-19.
Accordingly, the Seoul Metropolitan Government decided to build a public hospital in Wonji-dong, Seocho-gu, by 2026, with a total floor area of 91,879 square meters and 600 beds. The hospital is intended to operate like a general hospital under normal conditions but will separate pathways and ventilation systems to accommodate both general and infectious patients simultaneously during outbreaks. This plan reflects the concerns that during COVID-19, all municipal hospitals were functioning solely as infectious disease specialist hospitals, leaving vulnerable populations such as the elderly, homeless, disabled, and dialysis patients without adequate medical facilities.
However, as of now, no construction has been undertaken for the hospital. This is due to a lack of secured funds for the project. The budget set by the Seoul Metropolitan Government for the hospital establishment is a total of 400 billion won, which consists of 199.8 billion won from the national budget and 200.1 billion won from the city budget, with funding from the national budget being uncertain.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance did not select the Seoul Metropolitan Government's public hospital establishment plan for preliminary feasibility studies last year. It was excluded from consideration as a project for preliminary feasibility studies due to the presence of several large hospitals near the public hospital site. In the southeastern part of Seoul, including Seocho-gu, Gangnam-gu, Songpa-gu, and Gangdong-gu, there are Seoul St. Mary's Hospital (Banpo-dong), Samsung Medical Center (Ilwon-dong), Gangnam Severance Hospital (Dogok-dong), Asan Medical Center (Pungnap-dong), and Gangdong Kyunghee University Hospital (Sangil-dong). The presence of many large hospitals, referred to as the 'Big 5,' led to the judgment that there was no urgency for the hospital establishment.
There have reportedly been concerns over the site not being suitable for a hospital due to its proximity to the Gyeongbu Expressway, which makes it vulnerable to noise. In the past, the National Medical Center (NMC) also attempted to transfer to this location but later canceled the plan.
Some point out that the Seoul Metropolitan Government may have optimistically pursued the hospital establishment while assuming it would receive national funds. A Seoul Metropolitan Government official noted, "We do have plans to re-pursue the hospital establishment," but added, "Building the hospital entirely with city funds requires a significant amount of money, so there are many aspects that need to be examined."
◇City to open a park golf course next year as the site remains unused
As the hospital establishment construction has been delayed, the vacant land is set to be operated as a park golf course next year. Seocho-gu proposed this to the Seoul Metropolitan Government in light of the hospital construction project's stagnation, and the Seoul Metropolitan Government accepted it. The two parties plan to establish a nine-hole park golf course on the hospital site, which covers 14,307 square meters, by next year. Seocho-gu recently received a 'conditional proceed' judgment from the Ministry of Interior and Safety's local government finance central investment review, permitting the establishment of a park golf course on the hospital site.
There are also observations that establishing a park golf course on the hospital site could lead to the cancellation of the hospital establishment plan. In relation to this, a Seoul Metropolitan Government official stated, "The park golf course will be used temporarily until construction of the hospital begins." The budget for the establishment of the park golf course on the hospital site will be covered by the Seoul Metropolitan Government with 47.5 billion won and Seocho-gu with 1.3 billion won.