The construction project for a 700-bed general hospital in the Wirye New Town has received preliminary approval from the Ministry of Health and Welfare for bed supply. This approval provides a crucial institutional foundation for the long-delayed development of the Wirye Medical Complex.
Wirye New Town has faced criticism for lacking a general hospital, which has hindered access to emergency and critical care services despite the establishment of a large residential area.
According to the real estate and healthcare sectors on June 16, the Wirye Seongshim Consortium received approval for its plan to establish the 700-bed Wirye Seongshim Hospital during a preliminary review by the Ministry of Health and Welfare on June 15. The ministry has reportedly notified the Seoul city government of the approval.
The Wirye Seongshim Hospital will be located in the Wirye Medical Complex area in the Geoyeo-dong neighborhood of Songpa District, Seoul, covering approximately 44,004 square meters. The consortium includes Meritz Securities, Gangdong Seongshim Hospital, and Topec Engineering.
The consortium plans to establish a project financing investment company (PFV) soon and will pursue a land contract with the Seoul Housing and Urban Development Corporation (SH Corporation). Following this, they aim to begin construction in early next year after completing necessary permits and approvals.
This approval is significant as it clears a major hurdle in the hospital construction process. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has been managing the supply of new beds in areas with an oversupply since announcing its third basic policy for bed supply in 2023. Hospitals with more than 300 beds require prior approval from the ministry at the establishment stage.
The southeastern region of Seoul has been classified as needing management of bed supply, making the total bed adjustment a key issue during the Wirye Seongshim Hospital's development process. The Wirye New Town spans administrative districts in both Seoul's Songpa District and Gyeonggi Province's Seongnam and Hanam cities, which was taken into account during the review process.
The Wirye Medical Complex project has been in the works since the 2008 Wirye land development plan, initially aimed at attracting comprehensive medical facilities. However, it has faced delays due to issues with selecting a developer, land contracts, and financing. In 2021, the Mirae Asset Consortium was selected as the preferred bidder, but the selection was canceled in 2024 due to land payment issues. Subsequently, SH Corporation re-opened the bidding and selected the Wirye Seongshim Consortium, which includes Gangdong Seongshim Hospital and Meritz Securities, as the new developer in July of last year.
If the project proceeds as planned, access to medical services in Wirye New Town is expected to improve. Although a large residential complex has been established, the lack of a general hospital has necessitated that emergency and critical patients travel to nearby large hospitals.
The consortium plans to allocate about 40% of the total beds to essential medical functions, including an emergency medical center. Plans also include a cardiovascular center, robotic surgery center, dementia prevention center, and gastroenterology center.
Industry experts believe that this approval will accelerate the subsequent procedures for the Wirye Medical Complex project. Given that the preliminary bed supply approval is a major gateway for hospital establishment, steps such as establishing the PFV, signing the land contract with SH Corporation, obtaining building permits, and securing financing are expected to proceed sequentially.
A representative from the development industry stated, "The preliminary bed supply approval marks a significant advancement in reducing the uncertainty surrounding the Wirye Medical Complex project. Since a general hospital is a key infrastructure that influences the living conditions in the new town, its realization will greatly enhance medical access for Wirye residents." They added, "However, there are still steps remaining, including land contracts, permits, and financing before actual construction and opening can occur."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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