Boeun Hanyang Hospital, the only hospital operating an emergency room in Boeun County, has told the county that it plans to end the service after October 2026 because of mounting financial pressure. The closure is expected to begin in November, raising concerns about access to urgent treatment during nights, weekends and public holidays.
- Planned closure
- Emergency room operations are expected to stop from November 2026
- Affected area
- Boeun County, where the hospital operates the only emergency room
- Possible destinations
- Hospitals in Cheongju or Daejeon for care outside regular hours
The hospital previously operated a 24-hour emergency room as a designated regional emergency medical institution. Difficulty securing medical staff forced it to reduce the service earlier this year to the more limited level of an on-call medical institution. Rising personnel costs for dedicated emergency staff subsequently added to the operating burden and contributed to the decision to stop the service.
Staffing shortages and rising costs drove the decision
If the emergency room closes, patients needing care outside regular clinic hours may have to travel to hospitals in Cheongju or Daejeon. Longer journeys could delay assessment and initial treatment, particularly for patients whose conditions require rapid intervention. The available evidence does not specify patient volumes, travel times or the number of emergency workers affected.
The Boeun County public health center is discussing ways to maintain emergency services with the hospital. It is also considering remote medical support from Hana Hospital in Cheongju, longer operating hours at local medical institutions, stronger patient transport arrangements and closer cooperation among hospitals and emergency responders.
County officials seek coverage before November
Some county council members have asked North Chungcheong Province to provide funding and help secure specialist personnel. Even if those measures are introduced, the public health center expects that completely preventing a gap in emergency care will be difficult. Whether the hospital revises its plan, and whether provincial support or alternative coverage can be arranged before November, will determine the immediate impact on residents.