Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital (KNUCH), led by President Kim Jong Gwang, has officially obtained the Korean Accreditation Program for Hospitals Serving Foreign Patients (KAHF), administered by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Through this achievement, the hospital’s capabilities in international medical services and patient safety have been formally recognized. The accreditation date is December 18, 2025.
The KAHF accreditation is a government-certified program granted to registered institutions attracting foreign patients that meet specific standards through a comprehensive evaluation of medical services, including foreign patient-centered services, patient safety, infection control, and facility/environment management. The final decision is made following an on-site survey by the Korea Institute for Healthcare Accreditation and a review by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute.
KNUCH successfully obtained this accreditation by reviewing and improving its clinical processes for foreign patients through its International Healthcare Business Center, advancing its patient safety and infection control systems, and systematically enhancing multilingual support services and patient rights protection systems.
Since its establishment in 2015 as the Office of International Cooperation, the International Healthcare Business Center has actively promoted various international cooperation projects, focusing on Central Asia. These include medical training programs, development of educational systems, telemedicine, and overseas medical volunteer activities. In recognition of these achievements, the hospital received the Prime Minister’s Commendation at the Medical Korea Global Healthcare Awards in March 2025.
Through this accreditation, the hospital plans to actively utilize the certification mark, domestic and international promotion opportunities, and preferential benefits related to international healthcare projects over the next four years (December 2025 to December 2029). In addition, KNUCH will continue to strengthen its capacity to attract foreign patients through ongoing post-accreditation management and internal monitoring.
President Kim Jong Gwang stated, “This accreditation is a meaningful achievement that officially recognizes the reliability of our international medical services and the level of patient safety. We will continue to develop into a global healthcare institution that both foreign patients and international partners can trust with confidence.”