SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

- Establishes a specialized medical system tailored to firefighters' occupational hazards, supported by 302 beds and 19 medical departments

- Fulfills a vital public healthcare role ranging from specialized firefighting care and research to essential and emergency medical services in central North Chungcheong Province

[Photo 1] President Lee Jae-myung delivers a commemorative speech at the grand opening ceremony of the National Fire Hospital.

[Photo 2] Kwak Young-ho, Director of the National Fire Hospital, presents the construction progress report.

Firefighters, who operate on the frontlines of fire, rescue, and emergency medical services, are repeatedly exposed to various high-risk hazards. A specialized healthcare system covering prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation tailored to the unique physical and mental demands of their duties was urgently needed. To address this, the National Fire Agency (NFA) held the grand opening ceremony for the National Fire Hospital on August 11. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and other key officials attended the event, marking the official launch of the nation’s first specialized medical institution dedicated to firefighters' health, specialized research, and regional public healthcare.

The ceremony commenced with a pre-event performance by the Central Fire Band, followed by a construction progress report from Kwak Young-ho, Director of the National Fire Hospital. Choi Yong-chul, Acting Commissioner of the National Fire Agency, delivered the welcome address, which was followed by a commemorative speech by President Lee Jae-myung. The event concluded with a joint celebratory performance by the Central Fire Band and the elementary school division winners of the North Chungcheong Fire Children’s Song Contest. Prior to the ceremony, Hyundai Motor Group and KB Insurance held a donation ceremony to support the improvement of firefighters’ medical welfare and ensure stable hospital operations.

Established by the NFA and operated under a management contract by Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH), the National Fire Hospital provides comprehensive, life-cycle medical services. These services range from routine health management to the treatment of occupational diseases and disaster-related injuries, as well as rehabilitation and recovery.

The hospital incrementally expanded its medical services starting with essential departments-including Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. During this phase, the hospital thoroughly tested its Hospital Information System and operational workflows in live clinical settings. It is currently offering medical care to both firefighters and local residents, building a stable patient-care system.

Located in the Chungbuk Innovation City in Eumseong-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, the National Fire Hospital operates with 302 beds and 19 medical departments. Centered around four specialized centers—Burn Healing, Integrated Rehabilitation, Mental Health, and Health Promotion—the hospital delivers an end-to-end medical care pathway that covers disease prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery for firefighters. Furthermore, the Fire Medicine Research Institute plans to build a foundation for specialized firefighting medicine by conducting research on occupational diseases and disaster-realted trauma.

[Photo 3] President Lee Jae-myung inspects the hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber alongside medical staff.

[Photo 4] President Lee Jae-myung offers words of encouragement to a firefighter patient.

As a designated regional emergency medical center, the hospital is equipped to handle 119 emergency transports and critical patient cases. With state-of-the-art facilities, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers, it possesses strong capabilities for treating disaster-related conditions such as burns and carbon monoxide poisoning. By extending its services to local residents, the hospital will bolster essential and emergency healthcare services in the central region of North Chungcheong Province.

SNUH will leverage its experience in clinical care, medical research, and public healthcare as national tertiary hospital to support the operation of the National Fire Hospital. By integrating specialized expertise across departments and applying clinical research capabilities, SNUH aims to advance healthcare systems tailored to firefighters and enhance expertise through research and medical education in firefighting medicine.

The National Fire Hospital plans to fulfill a role as both a "specialized hospital for firefighters" and a "regional public healthcare provider," offering medical care tailored to the unique demands of firefighting duties for firefighters, while delivering high-quality public healthcare services to local residents. Furthermore, the hospital aims to contribute to the advancement of South Korea's firefighting medicine.

"The National Fire Hospital represents a meaningful milestone in which the nation responds with medical care to the firefighters who have protected the lives and safety of our citizens. Based on SNUH’s accumulated experience in clinical treatment, research, and public healthcare as the national primary hospital, we will do our utmost to ensure the National Fire Hospital leads the field in specialized firefighting medicine and research." said Baek Nam-jong, President and CEO of SNUH.

"The National Fire Hospital will serve as a reliable medical safety net where firefighters can receive treatment with peace of mind, as well as a public hospital that grows alongside the local community. We are committed to providing high-quality medical services to become a trusted institution for both firefighters and the general public, while establishing ourselves as a central hub for public healthcare in central North Chungcheong Province." said Kwak Young-ho, Director of the National Fire Hospital.

[Photo 5] Medical staff check the operational status of equipment in the hyperbaric oxygen therapy room

[Photo 6] A patient undergoes exercise therapy in the AI Robotic Rehabilitation Center

[Photo 7] Panoramic view of the National Fire Hospital