Korea University Anam Hospital launches $870 million surgical expansion

May 20, 2026, 08:56 am

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Han Seung-beom, President of Korea University Anam Hospital, delivers remarks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the hospital’s operating room expansion and intensive care unit advancement project held on May 19./ Reporter Kang Hye-won

Korea University Anam Hospital will invest about 120 billion won to expand its operating rooms and upgrade its intensive care units. The investment is aimed at strengthening the hospital’s critical and emergency care capabilities, with completion targeted for April 2029.

The hospital held a groundbreaking ceremony for its operating room expansion and intensive care unit advancement project at the central plaza of Korea University College of Medicine in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, on May 19 to mark the official launch of the project.

About 300 medical officials attended the event, including Han Seung-beom, President of Korea University Anam Hospital; Yoon Eul-sik, Vice President for Medical Affairs at Korea University and President of Korea University Medicine; Kim Jae-ho, Chairperson of the Korea University Foundation; and Kim Dong-one, President of Korea University.

The construction project, including the expansion of the surgical department and the remodeling of the main building’s first and second wards, will be carried out over approximately three years. The operating room expansion will cover 6,866 square meters, while the intensive care unit upgrade will span 11,246 square meters.

The core of the project is to strengthen the hospital’s advanced surgical system and critical care infrastructure. The hospital plans to organically connect the entire treatment process — from emergency response and diagnosis to surgery, intensive care, and recovery — in order to minimize delays in treating critically ill patients.

The number of operating rooms will increase from 25 to 33. In particular, the hospital will introduce hybrid operating rooms equipped with advanced imaging systems that allow surgeries and procedures to be performed simultaneously. These facilities are used to treat severe trauma cases and cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. The hospital said the addition will enhance its capabilities in treating regional trauma patients and those with complex cardiovascular and cerebrovascular conditions. The central supply center and radiology department will also be expanded to improve surgical efficiency.

The hospital will also expand wards for critically ill patients to a total of 135 beds in response to growing demand driven by an aging population and rising cardio-cerebrovascular disease cases. Through the remodeling of the main building wards, the hospital will add 32 intensive care beds, 14 high-risk maternity intensive care beds, five emergency beds, and 19 infectious disease isolation beds. The stroke intensive care unit, sterile ward, and psychiatry ward will also undergo improvements.

Lee Sung-woo, Vice President for Medical Affairs at Korea University Anam Hospital, who attended the groundbreaking ceremony, said, “In particular, all intensive care unit rooms will be designed as single-patient rooms to strengthen infection control functions.” The move reflects efforts to build a system capable of responding to infectious disease crises even during normal times, amid heightened awareness of infection control following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through the project, Korea University Anam Hospital aims to strengthen its role as a tertiary care institution specializing in severe, emergency, trauma, and cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. As a tertiary general hospital, it also plans to further reinforce its capabilities in critical care and surgery.

“This project is not simply about expanding the hospital, but about strengthening a critical care system that more safely and rapidly connects the entire treatment process for severely ill patients, from diagnosis and testing to surgery and recovery,” said Han Seung-beom, President of Korea University Anam Hospital. “As Korea enters a super-aged society and demand for treatment of serious diseases such as cancer and cardio-cerebrovascular conditions continues to rise, Anam Hospital will further strengthen its role as a final treatment institution.”

#Korea University Anam Hospital #operating room expansion #ICU upgrade #hybrid operating room #critical care