President's doctor likely to head SNU hospital

Suh Chang-suk

By Kang Seung-woo

Suh Chang-suk, a former doctor to President Park Geun-hye, is favored to become Seoul National University Hospital’s new president.

The hospital’s board of directors met to evaluate candidates for the post Tuesday and came up with two finalists ― incumbent President Oh Byung-hee and Suh.

According to the hospital, Suh was selected as the top candidate.

The education ministry will recommend one of the two to Park, who will make the final appointment.

It has been a practice in the hospital that the top candidate becomes the hospital’s head.

Suh, 55, a professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, was appointed as Park’s personal doctor in September 2014 and resigned in February to apply for the hospital job.

Suh is a well-respected reproductive endocrinologist in Korea.

When Suh was appointed to the job at Cheong Wa Dae, he drew attention because he was the first presidential doctor to come from the Seoul National Hospital in Bundang ― the hospital’s branch.

The three-year term of the new president begins in June.