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Strengthening Community Care Through Public-Private Partnership – Busan Holds Vehicle Donation Ceremony for the Hospital Companion Service

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The Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it will hold a Vehicle Donation Ceremony for the Hospital Companion Service today (June 17) at 10:30 AM in the Grand Conference Room of City Hall.

○ The ceremony was organized to strengthen the foundation of the “Hospital Companion Service,” which supports residents who face difficulties visiting hospitals, with the backing of various institutions.

○ Attendees include Kim Kwang-hoe, Vice Mayor for Future Innovation; Park Soon-ho, Chairman of SEJUNG Group; Kim Hyung-jun, Head of Strategic Business at Korea Ocean Business Corporation; Jo Joon-hee, Regional Director of NHIS Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam; Lee Soo-tae, Chairman of the Busan Community Chest of Korea; and approximately 70 representatives from local self-sufficiency centers.

At the ceremony, 11 vehicles donated by SEJUNG Group, Korea Self-Sufficiency Development Institute, Korea Ocean Business Corporation, and the National Health Insurance Service will be handed over. Combined with 11 vehicles donated last year, a total of 22 vehicles are now in operation.

○ The event will include:
▲ Progress report on the project
▲ Viewing of a promotional video
▲ Testimonials from service managers
▲ Congratulatory remarks
▲ Vehicle handover and commemorative photo session

○ The City will showcase the public-private cooperation model that bridges care gaps by sharing field experiences and impact stories from two current companion service managers.

The Hospital Companion Service assists single-person households who have difficulty traveling and accessing hospital services. Companion managers and vehicles provide full support from departure, reception, consultation, and payment to pharmacy visits and return home.

○ Busan is the only metropolitan local government in Korea to operate a vehicle-assisted companion service, particularly suitable for hilly neighborhoods and steep roads like those on Sanbokdoro.

○ The service fee is KRW 15,000 per hour.

• ●Households earning below 70% of the median income pay only KRW 2,000 per trip.

• ●Households above 70% of the median income pay KRW 10,000 per hour.

The number of designated service institutions has increased this year from 11 to 13 regional self-sufficiency centers. The additional vehicles will allow the City to meet growing demand and expand access to more citizens.

○ In 2024, the service was provided 4,620 times, and 2,887 cases had already been completed by the end of May 2025.

The City views this donation ceremony as a key turning point and plans to enhance the service while further developing its public-private integrated care model.

Kim Kwang-hoe, Vice Mayor for Future Innovation of Busan, stated:
“The Hospital Companion Service offers tailored care that alleviates the anxiety and burden of those who struggle to visit hospitals on their own.”
He added, “With shared dedication, commitment, and compassion, we aim to make Busan a truly ‘Caring City,’ and realize our vision of a Busan where people want to live—even if born again.”

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Appendix 1: Vehicle Donation Ceremony Overview

• ●Date & Time: June 17, 2025 (Tue), 10:30 AM

• ●Venue: Grand Conference Room, 1st Floor, Busan City Hall

• ●Participants: ~70 people

• ○Busan City: Vice Mayor for Future Innovation, Director of Social Welfare Bureau

• ○Donor Organizations:
  · SEJUNG Group (Chairman Park Soon-ho)
  · Korea Ocean Business Corporation (Strategic Division Head Kim Hyung-jun)
  · National Health Insurance Service, Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Branch (Director Jo Joon-hee)

• ○Busan Community Chest of Korea (Chairman Lee Soo-tae)

• ○Local Self-Sufficiency Centers (Vice Chair Song Sang-chul, Center Director Lee Yoon-hee)

Detailed Schedule

Time	Content	Remarks
10:30–10:32	Opening and Guest Introductions	Welfare Policy Director
10:32–10:34	Project Progress Report	Director, Social Welfare Bureau
10:34–10:39	Promotional Video Viewing
10:39–10:45	Testimonials from Companion Managers	2 speakers
10:45–10:55	Congratulatory Remarks and Dialogue	Vice Mayor and Guests
10:55–11:00	Vehicle Handover & Commemorative Photo	Vice Mayor and Guests

Appendix 2: Program Overview

• ●Background:
  The increase in single-person households has led to growing challenges in hospital access, necessitating transport and companion support services.

• ●Service Providers:
  13 local self-sufficiency centers

• ●Target Beneficiaries:
  Single-person households facing difficulty in hospital visits and transportation
  (In special cases, households with similar care gaps may also qualify)

• ●Support Provided:
  Companion managers and vehicles to accompany from home to hospital and back, including assistance with registration, consultation, payment, and pharmacy

• ●Operating Hours:
  Weekdays 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

• ●Usage Fees:
  · KRW 15,000 per hour (additional KRW 7,500 per 30 mins)
  · KRW 2,000 per trip for households below 70% of median income
  · KRW 10,000 per hour for households above 70%

• ●Application Method:
  Apply at local eup/myeon/dong community service centers

• ●Vehicles Secured in 2025:
  11 vehicles (Total: 22)
  · SEJUNG (4), Korea Self-Sufficiency Dev. Institute (4), Korea Ocean Business Corp. (2), NHIS (1)

• ●Service Records:
  · 2024: 4,620 cases
  · 2025 (as of May): 2,887 cases