South Korea's first for-profit hospital will open its doors for patients next year.<br />The Jeju provincial government revealed on Wednesday that it has approved a Chinese-owned company's move to run the facility on the southern resort island.<br />Park Hee-jun reports. South Korea's very first for-profit hospital is expected to open next year on Jeju Island.<br />At a press conference on Wednesday, Jeju Island Governor Won Hee-ryong announced the approval of the opening of the Jeju Greenland International Hospital.<br />However, it's a conditional approval that only allows treatment for foreign medical tourists visiting Korea.<br />Treatment is also limited to plastic surgery, dermatology, internal medicine, and family medicine.<br />And according to the governor,... the hospital will have no effect on the public medical service system, as national health insurance coverage will not apply to the hospital.<br /><br />The approval comes after months of controversy.<br />A law inviting for-profit hospitals was passed under President Kim Dae-jung in 2002.<br />And the Park Geun-hye administration granted permission to Chinese-owned Greenland Group,... to build the Greenland International Hospital within Jeju Healthcare Town.<br />Civic groups and residents have been protesting against its establishment.<br />And the province's public opinion committee disapproved of the hospital in October,... leading to delays in the final approval.<br />But the governor ended up saying yes to the launch, to help revive the regional economy.<br />The governor apologized for being unable to accept the committee's views,... saying that the decision was made for the future of the province.<br />But the latest announcement is expected to stir up more opposition,... as it reverses a democratic decision by the public.<br /><br />Park Hee-jun, Arirang News. <br />
