The government curbs hospitals' new construction and expansion, but the competition among university hospitals to build branches is intensifying.
Eight university hospitals are pushing to open 10 branches in the greater Seoul area alone. According to the medical community, if all these branch hospitals are built as planned, the number of hospital beds in the Seoul metro region will increase by 6,300 or more.
Korea University Medicine (KUM) said Wednesday that it would open two branch hospitals in two cities in Gyeonggi Province surrounding Seoul – Gwachon and Namyangju -- with 500-600 beds each by 2028.
Ajou University Hospital is also pushing to build branches in Pyeongtaek and Paju in Gyeonggi Province. It plans to build a 500-bed branch within Pyeongtaek Brain City. The hospital and the city signed an agreement to build the branch hospital in March and dedicate it by 2027. It said the number of beds could increase to 800 in the future.
The other branch hospital will open in Paju Medical Cluster with 500 beds in 2028. The cluster will also house the National Cancer Center’s innovative medical research estate.
Gachon University Gil Medical Center will advance to the capital Seoul.
The hospital plans to establish a 1,000-bed branch hospital in Uirye New Town, which spans Songpa-gu, Seoul, and Hanam, Gyeonggi Province. However, prosecutors are investigating the allegations of fraud and breach of trust related to name trust in selecting a project operator.
Inha University Hospital aims to build a 700-bed branch in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, by 2027.
Medical Center plans to build an 800-bed general hospital in Cheongra International City near Incheon, while Hanyang University Hospital is pushing to set up a branch in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province.
Some university hospitals have already begun to build branches or even completed construction. For example, Yonsei University Health System is constructing Songdo Severance Hospital with 800 beds intending to open it in December 2026.
Seoul National University Hospital, which plans to build Baegot SNUH with 800 beds in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, will begin construction early next year for completion by 2027.
In March, Chung-Ang University Hospital opened a 700-bed branch in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital, and began service.
Other university hospitals in Seoul are seeking to increase beds instead of building branches, which became possible thanks to the revised urban planning decrees by the City Hall in July. The Seoul Metropolitan Government amended its ordinance to replenish public health infrastructure, including allocating beds for infectious diseases and increasing the floor area ratio to 120 percent of the current level in expanding general hospitals.
In response, about 10 general hospitals, including Samsung Medical Center, Konkuk University Hospital, and Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital (EUMC Mokdong), have expressed their intention to expand their facilities to the metropolitan government.
“Our hospital will likely be benefitted from the City Hall’s relaxed regulation,” said Ryu Jae-doo, president of EUMC Mokdong. “The eased floor space ratio will allow us to solve our long-pending problems, such as parking lots, laboratories, ICUs, and various convenience facilities. In addition, we will continue investment to replenish medical personnel, facilities, and equipment to cope with the new medical environment.”
The rush to build branch hospitals is not limited to the Seoul metro region. For example, Jeonbuk National University Hospital is pushing to build a 500-bed branch in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province. At the same time, Chonnam National University Hospital plans to build a new hospital in Gwangju with 1,500 beds. Chungbuk National University Hospital also promotes opening a branch in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province.
The government has expressed concerns about the supply glut of hospital beds and vowed to work out measures to block the construction and expansion of new or branch hospitals. However, it has yet to come up with specific steps.
According to the hospital bed estimate made by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in July, there will likely be 44,000-47,000 beds will likely be oversupplied in 2026.
However, even if the ministry works out measures to curb the increase of hospital beds, officials think it impossible to nullify university hospitals’ plans to build branches.