SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

- Carrying Forward the Legacy of the Minnesota Project by Transferring Korean Medical Expertise to Laos

- A 400-Bed, 28-Department Modern Tertiary Hospital Targeted to Open in 2028

- SNUH to Lead Healthcare Planning and Workforce Training Consulting Since 2022

[Photo 1] Key participants at the groundbreaking ceremony for the UHS Hospital in Vientiane, Laos

Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH), which has been advising on the planning and operation of Laos’ first national university hospital since 2022, announced that construction of the hospital has officially begun.

According to SNUH, a groundbreaking ceremony for the University of Health Sciences (UHS) Hospital was held on June 27 in Vientiane, Laos. The hospital will be a modern, 400-bed general hospital comprising 28 clinical departments and specialized clinics, with the goal of opening in 2028. The ceremony was attended by approximately 90 participants, including Baikham Khattiya, Minister of Health of Laos, Young-soo Chung, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Laos, and Dong Yeon Lee, Director of International Healthcare at Seoul National University Hospital.

In 2021, SNUH formed the SNUH Consortium together with Myungsung Architects & Engineers, DA-IN Architects, Sangji Architects, the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), and KCA Co., Ltd., and signed a contract for the Laos National University Hospital Construction Consulting Project. Since then, the consortium has been providing comprehensive support across all stages of hospital development—including design, operations, and workforce development—over a four-year period. The project is financed through a loan from Korea’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF).

In particular, SNUH is overseeing the overall healthcare planning and education and training of medical personnel for the UHS Hospital. The hospital is also supporting the establishment of a Simulation Center for specialist training, providing end-to-end assistance ranging from curriculum development to the procurement of training equipment. Once completed, UHS Hospital will become the first medical institution in Laos to operate a simulation center and will serve as the primary teaching hospital for the National University of Health Sciences.

[Photo 2] Architectural rendering of the UHS Hospital in Laos

Beyond infrastructure development, SNUH is currently hosting Lao healthcare professionals in Korea for advanced clinical and hospital management training. Following the hospital’s opening, SNUH plans to dispatch medical professionals to Laos for two years to provide continuous education and clinical consultation. These efforts aim to foster self-sustaining medical workforce development and ensure stable hospital operations.

The project is widely regarded as symbolic, reflecting Korea’s transformation from a recipient of international assistance—through initiatives such as the Minnesota Project in the 1950s—into a donor country contributing to the advancement of healthcare infrastructure in developing nations.

Commenting on the project, Baikham Khattiya, Minister of Health of Laos, stated:

“The UHS Hospital will become a national central hospital providing the highest level of medical services in Laos while training outstanding healthcare professionals. We hope this hospital will stand as a symbol of cooperation between the governments of Laos and the Republic of Korea.”

Dong Yeon Lee, Chief of Global Operations and Business Development at SNUH, added:

“The Laos National University Hospital consulting project is a meaningful initiative that carries forward Korea’s medical development experience rooted in the Minnesota Project, as well as the spirit of the Lee Jong-wook Fellowship. Drawing on our experience in operating leading teaching hospitals, SNUH is committed to successfully completing this project and contributing to improvements in local healthcare quality.”

Meanwhile, SNUH continues to lead global healthcare cooperation initiatives—including the commissioned operation of Sheikh Khalifa Specialty Hospital in the UAE—expanding Korean medical systems as a global standard by transferring advanced healthcare models and strengthening local medical capacity worldwide.