Page 281 - 2020 Defence White Paper

Section

3 Reorganizing the Military
Medical System

The ROK Armed Forces is strengthening their military medical capabilities in essential
areas to build a military medical system trusted by both servicemembers and the public,
while actively capitalizing on civilian medical resources when providing medical services.

1. Improving the Military Medical System Geared Toward
Servicemembers

Modernizing Military Medical Facilities The MND plans to improve dete-
riorated medical corps at division-

level units and below as well as hospitals supporting forward corps to ensure that
servicemembers can receive treatment in a comfortable environment. Chapter 7
Of the total 75 division-level medical corps buildings, 24 buildings that are old
will be improved one after another by the end of 2025, while the renovation of 7 old
medical facilities in units scheduled to be disbanded or relocated were completed in
2020. Among the hospitals supporting forward corps, the Armed Forces Hospitals in
Hongcheon, Gangneung, Yangju, and Chuncheon will be modernized sequentially
by 2024 in connection with the Armys unit reorganization plan.
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Functional Adjustments and Specialization In order to ensure higher levels
of Military Medical Institutions of medical services for ser-
vicemembers by efficiently
utilizing limited military medical capabilities, the MND is making adjustments
towards specializing the functions of each military medical institution through
"selection and concentration".
16 military hospitals were specialized by area such as surgery, mental health,
outpatient, nursing, and medical checkup, and the equipment and personnel have
been reassigned in phases according to the level of treatment and available care
provided by each military hospital by end of 2020. The Armed Forces Busan

Chapter 7. Embedding an Inclusive Culture in the Military: With the People, Trusted by the People