Wonju-si pulls out all the stops to attract an Advanced Medical Complex, urges National Assembly to pass law amendment

[Financial News, Wonju = Kim Gi-seop] In Wonju, which has spent nearly 30 years building up its medical device industry, companies, universities, hospitals and public institutions joined in calling for the city to host an Advanced Medical Complex.
According to Wonju-si, a resolution and policy forum on attracting a Wonju Advanced Medical Complex was held that day at Diamond Hall, Hotel Inter-Burgo Wonju. About 200 people attended, including representatives of Wonju-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, Wonju-si Council, local medical device companies, universities, hospitals and research institutions.
A resolution read on behalf of the attendees by Heo Yeong-gu, chairman of the Gangwon Medical Device Industry Association, called for the amendment to the Advanced Medical Complex Act—which would allow such a complex to be designated in the region—to be passed swiftly by a plenary session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. Attendees held placards and hand-held banners and launched paper airplanes bearing their hopes for the city’s selection. Yonsei University Professor Emeritus Yoon Hyung-ro and Kim Young-sung, head of Wonju Medical Industry Technovalley, delivered keynote speeches outlining the direction and strategy for the bid. A panel discussion examined the need to designate Wonju and the roles of each stakeholder, with participants from industry, research institutions, the medical sector and public institutions.
Wonju is home to around 180 medical device companies, as well as universities, hospitals, research and support institutions, and public healthcare agencies such as the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) and the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA). The city plans to combine its manufacturing, research and clinical capabilities with expertise in data, insurance and assessment, enabling companies to receive support in one city from product development through clinical trials, regulatory approvals, production and overseas exports. It also aims to apply artificial intelligence to its existing manufacturing base to expand the industry into advanced medical technologies, while building a cooperative system in which stakeholders jointly develop and validate solutions to healthcare issues.
Building on a business meeting with the Gangwon Medical Device Industry Association on October 26 and this forum, the city plans to commission a study next year to draw up a comprehensive plan for developing an Advanced Medical Complex. As the amendment has not yet been brought before a plenary session, the city will monitor the National Assembly’s deliberations and continue preparing for the bid with Gangwon Province.
Wonju-si Mayor Gu Ja-yeol said, “The fact that around 180 medical device companies and public health insurance agencies are concentrated in one city is a strength unique to Wonju.” He added, “We will complete our preparations so we can move immediately to secure the designation once the law amendment is finalized, and develop Wonju into a national medical technology hub encompassing diagnosis and treatment, rehabilitation and care.”

[email protected] Kim Gi-seop Reporter