Yeoncheon-gun Health Medical Center

Yeoncheon-gun Health Medical Center (연천군보건의료원) is a public medical institution operated by Yeoncheon County in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. It is located at 95 Eundaeseong-ro, Jeongok-eup, in an area known for its prehistoric sites, Goguryeo-era Eundaeri Fortress, and the scenic Hantan River. The institution traces its origins to the Yeoncheon County Health Center established in 1963, and in April 1989 it was launched as a hospital-level medical institution for agricultural and fishing communities. It is notable as the only "hospitalized health center" in Gyeonggi-do that combines public health programs with clinical treatment. The center operates a 10-department outpatient clinic, a 24-hour emergency room designated as a regional emergency medical institution, inpatient wards, an operating room, a health examination center, and various public health centers including a dementia relief center, mental health welfare center, and suicide prevention center. It also runs seven health sub-centers (jiso) and seven health clinics (jinryoso) across the county. The facility sits on a 32,804 m² site with a 9,913 m² building (four floors above ground), including an 8,575 m² medical center and a 1,338 m² funeral hall. As a county public health institution, it serves residents of Yeoncheon-gun and collaborates with major hospitals such as Seoul National University Hospital and Catholic University of Korea Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it operated screening clinics and vaccination centers, and several departments were temporarily reassigned to pandemic response. The center remains active, providing both everyday medical care and public health services to the community.

The institution began in 1963 as the Yeoncheon County Health Center (연천군 보건소). In April 1989, it was elevated to a hospital-level medical institution for agricultural and fishing communities and renamed Yeoncheon-gun Health Medical Center. In 1999, it moved to its current newly built location at 95 Eundaeseong-ro, Jeongok-eup (Eundaeri). It is the only "hospitalized health center" in Gyeonggi-do that merges public health work with clinical treatment. Over the years, the center expanded and adjusted its clinical departments. In 2006, it began providing Korean traditional medicine (oriental medicine) services. In 2007, the pediatrics department was renamed pediatrics and adolescent medicine, and neuropsychiatry was renamed psychiatry. In 2011, the obstetrics and gynecology department was abolished; in 2012, urology was abolished; and in 2015, neurosurgery was abolished while general surgery began. In January 2020, obstetrics and gynecology and pediatrics and adolescent medicine resumed services. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020–2021, several departments were temporarily closed or reassigned to pandemic response: the Korean medicine department was dispatched to COVID response on March 26, 2020; ophthalmology on April 6, 2020; internal medicine 2 temporarily suspended on December 21, 2020; and orthopedics temporarily suspended on January 5, 2021. On January 3, 2022, dermatology and urology services began. The center has also developed its public health infrastructure, operating a health promotion center, dementia relief center, health examination center, mental health welfare center, suicide prevention center, smoking cessation clinic, integrated health management office, nutrition counseling office, and exercise prescription office. It maintains cooperative relationships with Seoul National University Hospital and Catholic University of Korea Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital. The emergency room operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, as a designated regional emergency medical institution.

• 2022

  Dermatology and urology services began on January 3.

• 2020

  Obstetrics and gynecology and pediatrics and adolescent medicine resumed in January; several departments reassigned to COVID-19 response from March.

• 2015

  Neurosurgery abolished; general surgery began.

• 2012

  Urology department abolished.

• 2011

  Obstetrics and gynecology department abolished.

• 2007

  Pediatrics renamed pediatrics and adolescent medicine; neuropsychiatry renamed psychiatry.

• 2006

  Korean traditional medicine department began services.

• 1999

  Moved to newly built current location at 95 Eundaeseong-ro, Jeongok-eup.

• 1989

  Launched as Yeoncheon-gun Health Medical Center, a hospital-level medical institution for agricultural and fishing communities.

• 1963

  Yeoncheon County Health Center established.

Public hospital-level health center providing comprehensive medical and public health services to Yeoncheon County residents.

• Outpatient clinics (10 departments)

• 24-hour emergency room

• Inpatient wards

• Operating room

• Health examination center

• Dementia relief center

• Mental health welfare center

• Suicide prevention center

• Smoking cessation clinic

• Funeral hall

1. 1Yeoncheon-gun Health Medical center - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2연천군보건의료원 - Wikipedia (Korean)ko.wikipedia.org