Changwon Hanmaeum Hospital: Pioneering Specialized Care in South Korea
“I have been traveling around the hospital and its surrounding areas cleaning for 30 years. I go hiking every week and think about the direction of the hospital.”
Changwon Hanmaeum Hospital, a 1,008-bed facility in Gyeongsangnam-do, is redefining regional healthcare. Hospital founder and chairman Ha Chung-sik, known for his humility—driving a compact car and preferring badminton to golf—believes a commitment to frugality sets the tone for the entire organization. “You can’t take a golf bag out of a foreign car and tell employees to tighten their belts,” he explained during a meeting at the hospital on January 14th, adding, “I wanted to show that even graduates from local universities can create a hospital that is as good as a large hospital if they work hard.”
That vision is becoming reality. Hanmaeum Hospital, established in 2010 through a partnership with Hanyang University, now boasts over 30 full-time professors and is planning a 500-bed cancer hospital slated to open in 2031. This expansion reflects a broader ambition: to deliver top-tier medical care outside of major metropolitan areas.
Korea’s First Specialized Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Hospital
Since last year, Changwon Hanmaeum Hospital has operated Korea’s first dedicated hepatobiliary and pancreatic hospital, led by Professor Kim Myeong-hwan. This specialized unit, bolstered by the expertise of former Asan Medical Center professor Kim and former Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital professor Joo Jong-woo, offers advanced surgical capabilities in liver, biliary tract, and pancreatic disease—comparable to those found in Seoul’s leading hospitals. In 2024, the hospital celebrated performing 1,500 pancreaticobiliary endoscopies.
The recruitment of top medical talent is central to Chairman Ha’s commitment to “saving local medicine.” This strategy has attracted patients from across the region, including those who previously sought care in Seoul. Jeong Young-ae, 72, whose son was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, shared, “My son was looking for a large hospital in Seoul. I heard that Professor Kim Myeong-hwan, a doctor in the pancreas field, works here, so he came down from Seoul and is receiving treatment.”
Expanding Intensive Care and Future Cancer Treatment
Changwon Hanmaeum Hospital is also strengthening its capacity to handle critical care. The hospital currently operates 63 adult intensive care unit beds—the largest number among secondary medical institutions in the Gyeongnam region—and employs seven resident specialists in intensive care medicine. This robust infrastructure allows for rapid responses to emergency situations. The hospital has consistently received an ‘A’ grade in the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s emergency medical institution evaluations, ranking 8th in 2022 and 2024, and 11th in 2023.
Looking ahead, the planned 500-bed cancer hospital, with a total floor area of approximately 35,000 pyeong, is envisioned to rival the National Cancer Center in the Gyeonggi region in size. The hospital also plans to introduce a ‘proton therapy device,’ considered a cutting-edge cancer treatment technology. Chairman Ha stated, “The project to build a cancer hospital and introduce a proton therapy device reflects the needs of local residents and the medical needs of an aging society. Our goal is to establish ourselves as a representative hospital in the Yeongnam region that performs more than a tertiary hospital through active investment.”
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