SNUH to Strengthen Role as Control Tower for Regional, Essential, and Public Healthcare... Leading the Future with 'Intelligent Connected Care'

Baek Namjong, Newly Appointed President, Declares "Completion of National Essential Medical Care"

AI Medical Platform 'SNUH.AI' Officially Launched... 6 Billion-Won Bio Fund Established

Baegot Seoul National University Hospital to Become a Future-Oriented Hospital Powered by AI and Robotics

Seoul National University Hospital has unveiled a new blueprint centered around the completion of the national essential medical care system and the establishment of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based "Connected Care" system.

Paik Namjong, director of Seoul National University Hospital, is delivering a greeting at the inauguration press conference held on the 15th at the Korea Press Center. Seoul National University Hospital

On June 15, Baek Namjong, President of Seoul National University Hospital, held an inauguration press conference at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. He stated, "We will complete the national essential medical care system and lead the future with intelligent connected care," and added, "We will serve as the 'last bastion' of public health for the Korean people while also advancing as a world-class hospital that sets the standard for future medicine."

President Baek identified the crisis in essential medical services, regional disparities in healthcare, the advent of a super-aged society, digital transformation, and bio-innovation as critical challenges that Seoul National University Hospital must address. To this end, he laid out five basic principles: national responsible medical care, future innovation, academic integration, governance innovation, and organizational culture. Based on these, he presented four key management goals: completing the national essential medical care system, building a value-centered community, achieving intelligent connected care, and establishing standards for future medicine worldwide.

First, to complete the national essential medical care system, the hospital plans to establish a nationwide "One-Hospital" collaborative governance. Through a national medical network connecting national university hospitals, public medical institutions, and major advanced general hospitals, the hospital aims to serve as a control tower for regional, essential, and public healthcare. President Baek said, "We will reduce medical disparities between the metropolitan area and other regions and share standard clinical guidelines and teleconsultation expertise to ensure that the highest level of care is available anywhere in the country." He added, "Seoul National University Hospital will leverage its leadership in the national university hospital network to play a pivotal role in policy validation as well as in supporting education and research."

Regarding the recent transfer of jurisdiction for all national university hospitals, except Seoul National University Hospital, from the Ministry of Education to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, he commented, "Our role does not change regardless of our administrative position," and continued, "We will demonstrate leadership within the national university hospital network based on excellence in clinical care, education, and research."

The core of the future strategy is AI-driven intelligent connected care. Seoul National University Hospital will advance its integrated group DX platform and incorporate AI across all processes, including clinical care, research, and administration. In particular, the hospital plans to expand patient-centered care into everyday life by establishing a "Digital Hospital at Home" model, ensuring continuity of medical care and support even after discharge.

To achieve this, the hospital will fully operate its in-house integrated AI platform, "SNUH.AI." President Baek explained, "We will implement a new model for future hospitals by applying AI not only to clinical care but also to the entire administrative cycle," and further stated, "We will maximize the efficiency of the hospital's limited space through real-time, data-driven resource management and space reallocation."

The hospital is also working to establish a bio-medical innovation ecosystem that will lead the future medical industry. It plans to create an ultra-wide medical cluster linking Seoul National University, the main hospital, Bundang Seoul National University Hospital, and Baegot Seoul National University Hospital, and to focus on nurturing physician-scientists (MD-PhDs) who integrate medicine, engineering, and natural sciences. Additionally, the hospital intends to build an AI-based global clinical trial system, advance its advanced cell and gene therapy center, and create a deep tech and bio start-up support fund worth 6 billion won to promote commercialization of research outcomes and establish a virtuous cycle of reinvestment.

Large-scale infrastructure projects under the Seoul National University Hospital group are also accelerating. Seoul National University Children's Hospital will remodel its wards to increase the proportion of rooms with four beds or fewer from the current 23% to 93%. Bundang Seoul National University Hospital is proceeding with the construction of a 348-bed specialized infectious disease hospital in the metropolitan area. Seoul Metropolitan Boramae Hospital will establish a 72-bed respiratory care center to strengthen its capacity to care for high-risk patients.

Additionally, the Gangnam Center will be transformed into an AI-based preventive medicine hub, and the National Traffic Rehabilitation Hospital will expand its role as a central trauma rehabilitation base. The recently opened National Fire Service Hospital is set to establish a disaster and public healthcare system centered around four specialized centers: burns, mental health, health promotion, and integrated rehabilitation. The Gijang Heavy Ion Therapy Center, which will introduce Korea's first multi-ion (carbon and helium) treatment system, and the 800-bed Baegot Seoul National University Hospital are both targeting openings in 2027 and 2029, respectively.

President Baek emphasized, "Seoul National University Hospital must go beyond simply providing excellent care and set the standard for healthcare across Korea, serving as a think tank for national health policy. We will turn crisis into opportunity and take the lead in solving the most pressing issues facing the national healthcare system."

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