Kim Hyun-bin began his journalism career at Arirang TV from 2012 to 2017, specializing in defense, foreign affairs and the economy. In 2018, he joined The Korea Times, covering society and business, and is currently responsible for embassy affairs.
Jeju to revoke license of Korea's 1st for-profit hospital
Aerial photo of Greenland International Medical Center, the country's first for-profit hospital, on Jeju Island / Yonhap
By Kim Hyun-bin
By Kim Hyun-bin
The provincial government of Jeju Island has begun a process to revoke the operating license of the nation's first for-profit hospital as the institute failed to open by the date designated by law.
The Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Government announced, Monday, it would hold a public hearing as soon as the first step to nullify its approval of Greenland International Medical Center, invested by Shanghai-based Greenland Group.
The process comes after the investor filed a lawsuit last month to demand a court lift the local government's ban on offering medical services to Korean patients.
“The medical center was granted the operating license on Dec. 5, and under the country's medical law, it needed to open within 90 days by March 4. But it was not able to and the deadline has expired,” Ahn Dong-woo, vice governor of Jeju, said during a press briefing.
According to the same law, the approval can be annulled if a hospital fails to meet the deadline.
On Feb. 26, Greenland Group requested an extension of the March 4 deadline, but the local government rejected it, saying the hospital has changed its stance over the license repeatedly and refused the provincial government's on-site inspection request.
“The local government will now hold a public hearing, where the investor can give its account on its operating plans,” Ahn said.
Afterward the government will make a final decision on the license cancellation. It expects the whole process to take about a month.
“We will establish a legal team to fight the medical center's lawsuit separately.”
The medical center would have been the nation's first for-profit hospital. However, the license was approved under the condition that it only treats foreign patients.
In mid-February, Greenland Group filed an administrative lawsuit to have the condition removed, claiming it is illegal to place a ban on treating local patients.
In August 2017, the hospital hired 134 medical workers including nine doctors in order to fulfill requirements for the license. But as the opening was delayed by more than a year, more than half of the employees including all doctors have moved on.