- Discussions on ways to cooperate with global hospitals, including a cytogenetic therapy hospital establishment in Songdo International City -
- Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok promises to establish Incheon as a global hub for cell and gene therapy -
Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) announced that on the afternoon of Apr. 23, Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok met with executives from CHA Hospital and Johns Hopkins University Hospital—a global leader in stem cell research—at Incheon City Hall.
CHA Hospital and Johns Hopkins Hospital members visited Incheon to explore strategic cooperation in the global medical market and lay the foundation for future joint projects.
They discussed the potential for establishing a global collaborative hospital in Songdo International City, including creating a next-generation cytogenetic cluster, and explored ways to position Songdo as a key hub for the medical industry in Northeast Asia.
In September 2023, the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority and the Sung Kwang Medical Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to attract a global specialty hospital to the I-11 site in Incheon’s International Business District.
The visit included Johns Hopkins Medicine International President Charles Wiener and Global Services Director Chengda Zhang as well as CHA Health Systems Chairman Kim Han-joong, CHA University President Cha Won-tae, CHA Biotech VP Choi Seok-yun, CHA University Medical Center Director Yoon Do-heum, and CHA Healthcare CEO Yoon Kyung-wook.
CHA Hospital, being the first in the world to succeed in adult somatic stem cell technology, currently operates successful hospitals in the United States, Australia, Japan, and Singapore. The hospital has established global competitiveness in infertility and cell therapy, and it is accelerating the development of cell therapies for degenerative diseases and anti-aging through immune cell and stem cell research in countries such as Japan.
Johns Hopkins Hospital is the first research-oriented hospital in the U.S. and is renowned for its world-class capabilities in medical research, clinical care, and stem cell research. The institution is considered one of the world’s leading academic hospitals, having produced a total of 29 Nobel Prize winners.
Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok stated, “As a global hub city with both an international airport and a port, Incheon is in an ideal position to be easily connected to the world. I am confident that this collaboration will not only contribute to improving human health but will also provide the optimal foundation for Songdo International City to grow into a global cell and gene therapy mecca.”
He added, “Incheon will provide all necessary administrative support to ensure the successful implementation of this project.”
Incheon Mayor Yoo Jung-bok meets with CHA Health Systems Chairman Kim Han-joong and Johns Hopkins Medicine International President Charles Wiener at Incheon City Hall on Apr. 23 to discuss the establishment of a specialized cell and gene therapy hospital.
