SUWON — Gyeonggi Province said on the 3rd that it will strengthen its emergency medical system by expanding the number of regional emergency medical centers to 36 from the current 33.
The decision was made after deliberation by the Gyeonggi Provincial Emergency Medical Committee. The designations run for three years, from November 1, 2026, to October 31, 2029. Regional emergency medical centers treat patients with moderate emergency conditions and provide initial care for severe cases, while higher-tier regional trauma-level centers handle definitive treatment for critically ill emergency patients. The number of these higher-tier centers in the province rose to 10 from nine following additional designations by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
The latest designations reflected statutory requirements covering staffing, facilities and equipment, along with actual treatment capacity, the ability to provide definitive care, and regional demand and accessibility.
The province is also expanding its response to pediatric emergencies and high-risk births. It currently operates 55 medical institutions providing pediatric care at night and on holidays, and the number of visits to Moonlight Children's Hospitals rose to 1.3 million in 2025. The number of obstetricians assigned exclusively to integrated treatment centers for high-risk mothers and newborns has been increased to 18.
"We will build a tightly knit system so that residents can receive the emergency care they need in time," said Yoo Young-chul, director general of the Gyeonggi Provincial Health Bureau.
