Jun Ji-hye, a reporter at the finance desk of The Korea Times, focuses primarily on economic policy and government agencies, mainly covering the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Ministry of Budget and Planning, the National Tax Service and the Korea Customs Service. She previously covered financial authorities, including the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service, and earlier worked on the political, city and business desks, reporting on a wide range of issues.
Hongseong Medical Center hires 3 specialists to boost regional medical services

From left are Ahn Yong-boong specializing in neurosurgery, Kim Young-chul specializing in neuropsychiatry and Kang Dae-hyun specializing in emergency medicine who recently joined the Hongseong Medical Center. Courtesy of Hongseong Medical Center
By Jun Ji-hye
Three experienced physicians recently joined the Hongseong Medical Center in South Chungcheong Province, with growing expectations that they will contribute to improving medical services in the region and resolving a worsening disparity between big cities and municipalities.
According to the medical center, Kim Young-chul, specializing in neuropsychiatry, Kang Dae-hyun, specializing in emergency medicine and Ahn Yong-boong, specializing in neurosurgery, recently began practicing at the hospital.
Kim, who graduated from the Seoul National University College of Medicine, has built up his experience at several major hospitals in Seoul, including the Kangbuk Samsung Hospital and Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital.
Kang graduated from the Seoul National University College of Medicine and completed his intern and residency program at the Seoul National University Hospital. He was also in charge of the emergency medical center of the Armed Forces Capital Hospital and the infectious disease response affairs at the Ministry of National Defense.
Ahn graduated from Hanyang University Colleage of Medicine and headed the neurosurgery department at the Eulji University Medical Center.
The three doctors' recent joining the regional medical center drew attention at a time when medical centers located outside of Seoul have long been suffering serious doctor shortages.
Kim Geon-sik, the director of the Hongseong Medical Center said the hospital will continue to recruit more specialists in various departments in a bid to revitalize medical services in the region.
“We have been able to resolve a medical services vacuum and regional disparity by making consistent efforts to recruit superb professionals,” Kim said. “We will continue to enhance the capabilities of each department to offer the optimal medical services to local residents.”