53 Regional Emergency Medical Centers Selected to Take Final Responsibility for Critically Ill Emergency Patients

Ministry Expands Number by 6 in Non-Metropolitan Areas...
Three-Year Operation Begins in November
Evaluation Focused on Critical Emergency Care Capabilities,
Strengthened Role in Regional Transport System

The Ministry of Health and Welfare has selected 53 regional emergency medical centers responsible for providing final treatment to critically ill emergency patients. This marks an increase of nine centers compared to the previous selection, with six additional centers designated specifically in non-metropolitan areas.

Yonhap News Agency

On July 15, the Ministry announced that it has selected 53 medical institutions to serve as regional emergency medical centers for three years, from November 2026 to October 2029. Regional emergency medical centers are core organizations within the local emergency medical system, actively receiving critically ill emergency patients and transferred patients, and assuming responsibility for final treatment. These centers are re-designated every three years based on evaluation results.

This year’s evaluation was conducted in line with the government’s ongoing initiative to restructure the emergency medical delivery system around critically ill patients. The evaluation focused not only on emergency room facilities, equipment, and personnel as before but also placed particular emphasis on the hospitals’ overall capacity to provide definitive treatment for critical emergency diseases. A total of 80 institutions applied, and after on-site evaluations, quantitative assessments such as the local final treatment rate for critical emergencies, and qualitative reviews of operational plans, a final selection of 53 centers was made.

By region, the number of centers in the Seoul metropolitan area increased by three, from 18 to 21, and in non-metropolitan areas by six, from 26 to 32. The government explained that it placed greater emphasis on expanding coverage in non-metropolitan regions to reduce disparities in emergency care for severe conditions between regions.

A total of 12 institutions have been newly designated as regional emergency medical centers. In Seoul, Severance Hospital, Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital, and Asan Medical Center were among those newly selected, along with Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital, Kangwon National University Hospital, Jeju National University Hospital, and Changwon Hanmaeum Hospital in other regions. However, some newly designated centers requiring improvements in facilities or personnel have been conditionally designated. These institutions will undergo on-site evaluations by April next year to determine if they meet the required criteria before their designation is finalized.

Regional emergency medical centers play a crucial role not only in providing final treatment for critical emergency and trauma cases but also in establishing regional emergency medical cooperation systems. They collaborate with local governments, 119 emergency teams, and local medical institutions to revise and operate transport guidelines and actively participate in a pilot emergency transport project, which the government plans to expand nationwide by September.

The government intends to strengthen accountability by linking the performance of regional emergency medical centers—such as their evaluations as emergency medical institutions and in subsequent re-designation reviews, as well as criteria for general hospital designation. For centers with insufficient implementation of operational plans or inadequate participation in regional transport systems, the government is considering actions such as revoking their regional emergency medical center designation.

Minister of Health and Welfare Jeong Eun-kyeong stated, "We expect that expanding the number of regional emergency medical centers will bolster the national capacity to respond to critical emergencies," adding, "We will continue to strengthen the emergency medical system, focusing on empowering final treatment capabilities for critically ill emergency patients."

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