Veterans Affairs Minister Kwon Oh-eul Visits Jeju National University Hospital... Jeju's 'Quasi-Veterans Hospital' Set to Begin Operations in December

[Financial News Jeju = Reporter Jung Yong-bok] Starting in December, Jeju National University Hospital will take on the role of a 'quasi-veterans hospital' in Jeju, which does not have a veterans hospital. The goal is to reduce the inconvenience faced by more than 26,000 veterans beneficiaries in Jeju who currently have to seek treatment at veterans hospitals in other regions, and to ensure they can receive veterans-hospital-level medical services on the island.
According to Jeju National University Hospital and the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs on the 31st, Minister Kwon visited the hospital the previous day and reviewed preparations for the operation of the Jeju-area quasi-veterans hospital with President Won and other officials. Jeju National University Hospital was selected in July as the first quasi-veterans hospital introduced by the MPVA for the Jeju region. Full-scale operations will begin on Dec. 1.
A quasi-veterans hospital is a system that designates national university hospitals or public medical centers at the level of general hospitals or higher in areas without veterans hospitals, in order to improve medical access and provide veterans-hospital-level services.
At present, veterans hospitals are located in Seoul, Busan, Daejeon, Daegu, Gwangju and Incheon, leaving Jeju and Gangwon without dedicated facilities. To narrow these regional gaps, the government introduced the quasi-veterans hospital system for the first time this year.
On July 27, the MPVA selected Jeju National University Hospital and Kangwon National University Hospital as the quasi-veterans hospitals for the Jeju and Gangwon regions, respectively. The government expects more than 26,000 veterans beneficiaries in Jeju and about 65,000 in Gangwon to directly benefit from the program.
The legal basis for the system has also been established. Eight related laws, including the Act on the Honorable Treatment of Persons of Distinguished Service to the State, were revised in February and took effect on the 20th of this month. Jeju National University Hospital's designation period runs for two years, from Dec. 1, 2024, to Nov. 30, 2028.
Ahead of the launch, the hospital is building an IT system that can verify whether veterans patients are registered and eligible for treatment. It also plans to expand dedicated staff to handle consultations, reservations and treatment guidance, creating a separate response system.
At the meeting, Jeju National University Hospital, the MPVA and the Jeju Veterans Affairs Office reviewed pre-launch preparations and potential on-site issues that could arise later. They also agreed to strengthen cooperation among the institutions to expand medical benefits for veterans patients.
The significance of a quasi-veterans hospital in Jeju goes beyond simply adding one more medical institution. Because of Jeju's geographic conditions, patients must use flights or ferries to visit veterans hospitals in other regions. In particular, when elderly veterans beneficiaries travel elsewhere for specialized care, the burden in time and cost can be substantial.
While commissioned hospitals in the region have provided veterans care, Jeju National University Hospital, as the region's lead medical institution, is expected to strengthen the foundation for connecting severe and specialized treatment within the island by taking on the quasi-veterans hospital function.
Minister Kwon said, "Jeju National University Hospital is preparing for the Dec. 1 launch," adding, "If there are difficulties during the preparation process, the government will provide support and also seek cooperation from relevant ministries."
President Won said, "Improving medical access for veterans patients in Jeju is an important role of a regional lead medical institution," adding, "We will work with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs to prepare so that more veterans beneficiaries can receive the medical services they need in Jeju."


[email protected] Reporter Jung Yong-bok Reporter