Hospital director Lee Hyung-rae vows to build future on critical care, research and patient-centered medicine
Gangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital marked its 20th anniversary Friday, holding a ceremony at Chahuyeong Hall on the fourth floor of its annex building.
The event was organized to look back on the hospital's two decades of history and reaffirm its commitment to a new phase of growth. The program opened with welcoming remarks and introductions of guests, followed by a retrospective video titled "Recollections of the Future: The Path to a Disease-Free Human Society," a presentation by hospital director Lee Hyung-rae on "The Vision and Future of Gangdong Kyung Hee," commemorative remarks by Kyung Hee Educational Foundation Chairman Cho In-won, a celebratory performance by the faculty and staff choir, and closing remarks.
Since opening on June 12, 2006, the hospital has established itself as a university hospital serving southeastern Seoul and the eastern reaches of Gyeonggi Province. Built on a care model that brings conventional medicine, traditional Korean medicine and dentistry together under one roof, it has pursued holistic healing and care beyond treating disease. It has also expanded its responsibilities in critical, emergency and essential care as a regional emergency medical center and disaster hub hospital, strengthening its role as a pillar of local healthcare.
In his anniversary presentation, Director Lee described the 20th anniversary as "a moment when Gangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital, now coming of age at 20, stands at the center of a major turning point," and characterized the past two decades as a period of collective effort built by the hospital's staff. He introduced a new slogan — "Deep Healing, Wide Care" — and outlined a direction for medicine that reaches deeply into patients' suffering beyond disease treatment and extends beyond the hospital's walls toward the broader human community.
He identified the hospital's core priorities going forward as transitioning to a research-centered hospital, pursuing advanced general hospital status, strengthening AI- and precision medicine-based convergence medicine, and building an open biotech collaboration ecosystem. "Pursuing advanced general hospital status is not simply a matter of rating — it is a commitment to our community that we will take full responsibility for patients with severe and complex conditions to the very end," he said. "We will not stop at quantitative growth but will advance through qualitative innovation to become an irreplaceable core medical institution."
Lee also outlined the hospital's approach to organizational management and patient-centered care. The hospital plans to formalize a system of accountability by field and to strengthen on-the-ground expertise and execution through administrative and nursing vice-director roles. "The dedication of each and every faculty and staff member is what defines Gangdong Kyung Hee's standing," Lee said. "We will build an organizational culture where accountability and communication take root, so that our people can work with pride as professionals."
The hospital is continuing a series of programs tied to its 20th anniversary. Earlier Friday morning, a commemorative symposium was held at the same venue under the theme "A Leap Toward the Future — Convergence, Innovation and the Medicine of Tomorrow." The symposium brought together participants to explore the direction of future medicine through convergence and innovation, drawing on the hospital's 20 years of achievements, and to discuss the institution's next chapter. On June 19, the hospital will hold an awards ceremony at the same location to honor faculty and staff who have contributed to its growth and development, and to express gratitude to those who helped shape its history.
kty@heraldcorp.com
