Concerns have been raised in the Busan City Council regarding the lack of a general hospital with an emergency room in Geumjeong District, urging swift action to revive the former Baptist Hospital.
Lee Jun-ho, a city councilor from the People Power Party representing Geumjeong District 2, called on Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo during a five-minute speech at the fourth plenary session of the 339th extraordinary meeting to take immediate action regarding the long-delayed revival project of the Baptist Hospital.
During his remarks, Lee pointed out the absence of a general hospital with an emergency room for the district's 210,000 residents and criticized the former mayor for not visiting the hospital site since taking office.
He particularly condemned the political failure to fulfill promises surrounding the revival of the Baptist Hospital. Lee stated, "President Lee Jae-myung promised to revive the hospital during his presidential campaign, and former Democratic Party Busan chairman Byeon Seong-wan also expressed intentions to push for it ahead of local elections, but no concrete results have followed."
Lee added, "Mayor Jeon Jae-soo must take responsibility for the unfulfilled promises of President Lee and former chairman Byeon," emphasizing the need for accountability from his own party member. He also referenced an incident involving President Lee during his tenure as the Democratic Party leader, highlighting the public's distrust in Busan's emergency medical system following a helicopter transfer to Seoul National University Hospital.
However, Lee did not solely blame the Democratic Party for the delays in the revival of the Baptist Hospital. He acknowledged, "The People Power Party also shares some responsibility," making it clear that both parties must address this critical local issue together.
Additionally, Lee expressed his willingness to accompany the mayor on a site visit, stating, "If the mayor expresses a desire to visit, whether officially or unofficially, I will personally guide him to the site."
The focus of Lee's remarks was primarily on urging the mayor's political commitment and site visit rather than detailing specific funding or project methods for the revival.
The official stance of Busan City regarding the project and future roadmap remains to be confirmed.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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