• CHA Global Hospital seeks to promote Korean healthcare by attracting international patients

To raise the renown of K-medical, Korean hospitals are actively working to attract international patients.

Kim Young-tak, president of CHA Global Hospital (Credit: CHA University Bundang Medical Center)

In line with this trend, the International Medical Center under CHA Bundang Medical Center, in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, has expanded and renamed itself as "CHA Global Hospital," transforming the organization from the ground up.

A consultation room and waiting area have been set up for foreign patients, and remote consultations between multinational medical teams are also prepared.

CHA Global Hospital will also improve access to care for foreign nationals in Korea, as well as international school employees, parents, and students, including U.S. military personnel.

English-, Chinese-, Russian-, Arabic-, and Mongolian-speaking staff are on-site to help patients navigate the hospital from consultation to hospitalization.

Korea Biomedical Review sat down with Kim Young-tak, president of CHA Global Hospital, to learn more about the hospital's vision and goals.

Question: I understand that CHA Medical Center has established a global hospital by integrating an international medical team. What is the significance of establishing a "hospital" beyond a "center" and how is it different from the previous one?

Answer: The advantage of CHA Medical Center is that its branches are spread across the Seoul metropolitan area, allowing patients to receive care and treatment according to their preferred location.

We felt that a unified management organization was needed to create a systematic and integrated process to ensure that patients receive one-stop consistent service no matter which hospital they visit.

In addition, about 17,000 foreigners have visited CHA Medical Center as of December 2023, becoming a functional organization that can take on roles and responsibilities as a hospital beyond the center, raising the brand image of the hospital, and contributing to medical tourism in Korea.

Q: As a gynecologist, is there a particular reason or trigger for your interest and involvement in treating international patients?

A: First, I've been to Johns Hopkins, which lives up to its title as an international hospital, treating patients regardless of their race or religion. I was very impressed with this idea.

Of course, international hospitals should be able to see patients from all over the world, but Korean hospitals are too busy seeing only domestic patients. They want to be called global healthcare institutions but don’t have much recognition overseas.

While physicians in other countries have some knowledge of Korean healthcare, it is not well known to the international public.

Secondly, there is a need for Korea's contribution to healthcare globally, and I thought we needed an internationalized hospital that fits our status in the healthcare field.

Thirdly, catering to international patients can contribute positively to the hospital's financial sustainability and support the diversification of revenue for the Korean economy. Recognizing the varying cost structures for different patient groups, we aim to ensure a fair and comprehensive healthcare experience for everyone.