On the left: Gyeongsang National University President Kwon Soon-ki, Chairman of the Tongmyong Institute of Culture & Education Seo Eui-taek, and Tongmyong University President Chun Ho-hwan took a photograph together on June 30, 2023, following Tongmyong University’s donation of land intended for use as a future veterinary hospital.[GYEONGSANG NATIONAL UNIVERSITY]
Busan will soon be home to South Korea’s biggest veterinary hospital, operated by Gyeongsang National University and constructed on Tongmyong University’s premises.
The construction site for the veterinary clinic will occupy a 13,300-square-meter (143,160-square-foot) area within Tongmyong University’s grounds located in Nam District, Busan, as revealed by the municipality on Thursday.
As stated by the city authorities, this facility will become South Korea’s largest veterinary hospital.
The hospital will be constructed after a memorandum of understanding was signed in 2022 among Busan, Tongmyong University, and Gyeongsang National University.
Tongmyong University has committed to donating land to Gyeongsang National University. This gesture aims to facilitate the construction and management of a new hospital facility. As part of this agreement, Gyeongsang National University pledged to provide support for Tongmyong University’s veterinary education initiatives. Meanwhile, Busan will be tasked with developing supportive policy frameworks and managing all related bureaucratic processes.
Even though Tongmyong University is situated in Busan and Gyeongsang National University is headquartered in South Gyeongsang, Busan anticipates that the hospital will be advantageous for both pet owners and veterinary students across these neighboring areas.
The veterinary hospital will consist of four above-ground levels along with one underground level. It will feature an emergency clinic, imaging department, radiation therapy unit, operating theaters, and spaces for diagnosing and treating patients. The topmost floor will cater to university students pursuing veterinary science; they will engage in practical education, receive training, and conduct research activities there.
Students pursuing degrees in veterinary studies will have the chance to get involved in pet-centric entrepreneurial initiatives at the hospital.
The construction is scheduled to begin approximately in October, with the hospital expected to be finished by June 2027.
“Gyeongsang National University’s veterinary hospital will provide top-notch medical care for animals and serve as crucial infrastructure to foster the pet industry,” stated Ahn Cheol-soo, who leads Busan’s Green City Bureau.
BY LEE TAE-HEE [[email protected]]
