Jinju Breaks Ground on First Standalone Public Health Center in 70 Years

KRW 47.3 billion to be invested in Chojeon-dong... One basement level and three floors above ground
Completion targeted for June 2028... Integrating public health functions, including infectious disease response and health promotion

Jinju City in South Gyeongsang Province is moving ahead with the construction of its first standalone public health center in more than 70 years, launching a full-scale effort to expand the region's public healthcare infrastructure.

The city announced that it held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Jinju Public Health Center on October 30 at the site of Phase 1 of the Chojeon New Downtown Development Project, in the area around 360-14 Chojeon-dong.

About 200 people attended the ceremony, including Jinju Mayor Jo Gyu-il, National Assemblyman Kang Min-guk, Jinju City Council Chair Park Mi-kyung, provincial and city council members, heads of local medical institutions, representatives of medical and pharmaceutical organizations, and local residents.

[Photo courtesy of Jinju City] Jinju Mayor Jo Gyu-il delivers commemorative remarks to attendees at the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the new Jinju Public Health Center, held on the 30th in the area around 360-14 Chojeon-dong, Jinju.

Jinju Public Health Center currently occupies part of the South Gyeongsang Provincial Government's Western Office. It is reportedly the only local government among the province's 18 cities and counties without an independent public health center building.

The existing center has faced difficulties accommodating large numbers of visitors and providing waiting areas during infectious disease outbreaks because of limited space. Its facilities have also constrained the expansion of healthcare services.

Jinju City has therefore pursued the construction of a standalone center to bring its public health functions together in one location and make it more convenient for residents to access medical and health services.

The new center will be built on a site in the area around 360-14 Chojeon-dong, with a total project cost of KRW 47.3 billion. It will have a site area of 8,169 square meters and a total floor area of 8,725 square meters, with one basement level and three floors above ground. Completion is targeted for June 2028.

The new center is planned to include space for healthcare and administrative work, as well as facilities for infectious disease prevention, management and response; maternal and child health programs related to pregnancy, childbirth and child-rearing; dementia prevention and mental health promotion; integrated care support; and health education for residents.

The city plans to consolidate public health functions that have been constrained by limited space, improving operational efficiency and providing health services tailored to each stage of life, from infancy through old age.

In particular, the center will include dedicated spaces to enable a swift response to infectious disease outbreaks and manage visitor flows. The city also plans to provide parking facilities and rest areas for visitors.

Jinju City plans to strengthen local public healthcare by improving its infectious disease response system and enhancing efforts to prevent chronic diseases and dementia and manage mental health through construction of the new center.

However, given that this is a large-scale public facility costing KRW 47.3 billion, key challenges include managing the project budget and monitoring construction progress, as well as drawing up an operational plan for the facility after completion.

The city also needs to consider how to ensure accessibility for current public health center users, connect the new center with public transportation, and minimize inconvenience when services move to the new building.

Jinju Mayor Jo Gyu-il said, "By building a standalone public health center, we will enable residents to access healthcare services in a better environment." He added, "We will strengthen public healthcare functions and establish a resident-centered public health administration system."

The construction of the new Jinju Public Health Center, funded with KRW 47.3 billion, is not only about expanding facilities. Key challenges include ensuring access for residents, strengthening infectious disease response capabilities, and establishing an efficient operating system after completion.

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