Welcoming the New Year from a Hospital Bed... A 'Special Sunrise' Met in the Metaverse

Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital Hosts First Metaverse Sunrise Event
Inpatients Enjoy Real-Time Sunrise at Gyeongpodae
Chatting, Sending Wish Lanterns, and Video Letters to Wish for Recovery

A patient admitted to Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital is enjoying the sunrise through the metaverse on the 1st.
[Photo by Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwanju] A special event was prepared to allow hospitalized patients who welcomed the Year of the Rabbit in their hospital rooms to enjoy the sunrise in the metaverse.

On the 1st, Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital announced that it had created the country's first "Metaverse Sunrise" so that hospitalized patients, their guardians, and staff could enjoy the first sunrise of the new year.

At around 7:40 a.m. that day, patients admitted to Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital accessed the "Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital Metaverse" application (app) and watched the sunrise broadcast live from Gyeongpodae. Through real-time chat, sending wish lanterns, and video messages, they also prayed for New Year's hopes and speedy recovery.

Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital collaborated with Interpo, a metaverse platform specialist company, to create a hospital-exclusive metaverse platform, establishing a system that allows patients who find it difficult to participate directly in the sunrise event to enjoy the sunrise over the East Sea.

One patient who watched the metaverse sunrise said, "It’s amazing to see the sunrise through the metaverse rather than just a simple TV broadcast," and added, "I was touched by the thoughtful hearts of my family and hospital staff who sent their support."

Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital is building a "Metaverspital" (a compound of metaverse and hospital) that implements the hospital in the digital world, aiming to lead the smart hospital paradigm through "hyperconnectivity" using artificial intelligence, big data, and more. This metaverse sunrise event was also conducted as part of the Metaverspital initiative.

Hospital Director Lee Cheolhee said, "The digital transformation of medical institutions ultimately aims to realize patient-centered values," and added, "I hope that through the metaverse sunrise, patients exhausted from the frustrating hospital life will gain hope and recover quickly."

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