National Fire Hospital opens in Eumseong to support firefighters

President Lee Jae-myung attended the opening ceremony of the National Fire Hospital in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province, on August 11. As the nation’s first specialized medical institution for firefighters, the hospital is designed to treat the physical and mental health challenges faced by emergency responders, including high rates of PTSD and depression.

The facility will collaborate with Seoul National University Hospital to leverage advanced clinical expertise and integrate data from the Fire Medicine Research Institute. This partnership aims to establish the hospital as a center for fire medicine and proactive disease prevention.

Beyond supporting firefighters, the hospital is intended to serve as a regional hub for public healthcare in the Chungbuk area. The government has pledged administrative and financial support to ensure the hospital functions as a key public institution, including the expansion of R&D centers and the maintenance of a 24-hour emergency medical system.