Seoul National University Hospital holds groundbreaking ceremony for Gijang Heavy Ion Particle Therapy Center in Busan
- 2 underground floors and 2 above-ground floors, with a total floor area of 13,657㎡ (approximately 4,100 pyeong), scheduled to open in the second half of 2027
- Establishment of the first heavy ion particle therapy center outside of the metropolitan area: Leading the treatment of incurable cancer by improving medical accessibility
[Photo 1] Panoramic view of Gijang Heavy Ion Particle Therapy Center
[Photo 2] Commemorative photo from the inauguration ceremony**
**In commemorative photo, from the left, Kim Tae Yeon, Chairman of the Jangan-eup Development Committee, UNIST President Lee Yong Hoon, Gijang-gun Governor Jeong Jong Bok, First Vice Minister of Science and ICT Cho Sung Kyung, Busan Metropolitan City Mayor Park Hyeong Jun, Seoul National University Hospital President Kim Young Tae, National Assembly member Jeong Dong Man (Gijang-gun), Gijang-gun Council Chairman Park Woo Sik, and Park Gyeong Oh. Seoul National University Hospital Standing Auditor, Woo Hong Gyun, Seoul National University Hospital Heavy Ion Accelerator Business Division Director and Vice Director of Cancer Care
Seoul National University Hospital (President Kim Young Tae) held an ‘Inauguration ceremony for the Gijang Heavy Ion Particle Therapy Center expansion and remodeling project’ at the accelerator room of the Gijang Heavy Ion Particle Therapy Center in Busan at 2 p.m. on the February 7th.
This inauguratory ceremony was held to commemorate the signing of contracts and commencement of construction for the expansion and remodeling work of the Gijang Heavy Ion Particle Therapy Center and to widely share the progress of the heavy ion accelerator construction support project. About 100 people attended the event, including Seoul National University Hospital President Kim Young Tae, First Vice Minister of Science and ICT Cho Seong Kyung, Busan Metropolitan City Mayor Park Hyeong Jun, Busan Metropolitan City Gijang County National Assembly member Jeong Dong Man, and Gijang County Mayor Jeong Jong Bok.
The Gijang Heavy Ion Particle Therapy Center will be built with 2 underground floors and 2 above-ground floors, with a total floor area of 13,657㎡ (approximately 4,100 pyeong), and the total construction cost is approximately 25 billion won. Renovating the original building completed in May 2016 as part of the Ministry of Science and ICT's heavy ion accelerator technology development project, it is planned the treatment space will be optimized through expansion of the rotating gantry treatment room, remodeling of the treatment room and treatment room, and the installation of accelerator room equipment.
[Image 1] Expected view of fixed beam treatment room
[Image 2] Expected view of the rotating gantry treatment room
After about three years of construction and inspection, the Heavy Ion Therapy Center is scheduled to open in the second half of 2027 with △a patient treatment area, △ a fixed beam treatment room, △ a rotating gantry treatment room, △ an accelerator room, and △other research and laboratory facilities.
After opening, it is planned to treat patients for various types of cancer, including prostate cancer, head and neck cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, and sarcoma in the center. In particular, it is planned to focus on treating patients who are expected to have severe side effects from X-ray treatment techniques, and those with incurable cancers.
[Image 3] Gijang Heavy Ion Particle Therapy Center expansion and remodeling construction area
[Image 4] Types of Cancer subject to Heavy Ion Particle treatment
Heavy Ion Particle Therapy is a cutting-edge cancer treatment technology that is evaluated for its high therapeutic effect and low side effects. However, there is only one Heavy Ion Particle Therapy Center in the Seoul area in Korea, limiting treatment accessibility for patients outside the metropolitan area.
With the opening of SNUH's Heavy Ion Particle Therapy Center in Gijang Busan, it is expected that access to medical care will be greatly improved as people outside the metropolitan area will be able to receive the highest standard of heavy ion treatment.
Hospital President Kim Young Tae said, “SNUH's Heavy Ion Particle Therapy Center, with cutting-edge technology and the best experts in the field, will lead research and innovation in the field of cancer diagnosis and treatment.” “SNUH will take the lead in improving public health through the treatment of incurable cancers by continuously conducting various research in preparation for the opening of the Gijang Heavy Ion Therapy Center,”.