Wonju's public and private sectors announced Friday they are moving forward in earnest to secure designation as the site of an advanced medical complex.
The joint push aims to build on the city's already globally competitive medical device industry and transform Wonju into a comprehensive medical technology cluster.
Wonju currently hosts more than 180 medical device companies alongside universities, hospitals, research and support institutions, and public health bodies including the National Health Insurance Service and the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, all concentrated in one area.
The city plans to leverage these strengths by linking its manufacturing, research and clinical capabilities with expertise in data, insurance and evaluation, so that companies can receive support across the full pipeline — from product development and clinical trials through regulatory approval, production and global exports.
In addition, Wonju aims to expand into advanced medical technology, or MedTech, by integrating AI into its existing medical device manufacturing base. To that end, the city is designing a collaborative framework in which multiple stakeholders jointly develop and validate solutions to medical challenges.
To advance these goals, Wonju's public and private sectors held a resolution ceremony and policy forum Thursday at Hotel Interbulgo Wonju's Diamond Hall, drawing about 200 leaders from the hospital, industry, academic, research and government sectors in science, technology and economics.
Heo Yeong-gu, chairman of the Gangwon Medical Device Industry Association, called strongly for the swift passage through a National Assembly plenary session of a bill amending the Advanced Medical Complex Act to enable regional advanced medical complex designations.
Building on an industry roundtable held Oct. 26 with the Gangwon Medical Device Industry Association and Thursday's forum, Wonju plans to unite businesses, institutions and the broader community behind its bid and formally launch a comprehensive planning study for the advanced medical complex in 2027.
Because the amendment to the Advanced Medical Complex Act has yet to be placed on the National Assembly's plenary agenda, the city said it will closely monitor the legislative process and work in close coordination with Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province to keep its preparations on track.
"Wonju has been nurturing its medical device industry for nearly 30 years and has consistently expanded into the digital healthcare sector," said Wonju Mayor Gu Ja-yeol. "By adding advanced technology to the medical device manufacturing base we have built up, we will make Wonju a key national hub for medical technology — covering everything from diagnosis and treatment to rehabilitation and care."
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