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Busan to Explore the Future of Regional Healthcare at KOMED 2026

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Chun Jae-soo) announced that KOMED 2026, a comprehensive healthcare event sponsored by the city and bringing together citizens and the medical community, will take place at BEXCO Exhibition Center 1 from October 23 to 25.

The event will comprise three programs: the KOMED 2026 Regional Healthcare Decentralization Forum, K-Medi Fair, and KIMES BUSAN 2026. In addition to exploring ways to advance regional healthcare, the event will introduce citizens to a wide range of medical services and cutting-edge medical technologies.

With a focus on strengthening regional, essential, and public healthcare and establishing a regionally self-sufficient healthcare system, the event is expected to provide a meaningful platform for medical professionals, academics, industry representatives, and citizens to discuss the future of regional healthcare.

The KOMED 2026 Regional Healthcare Decentralization Forum will be held under the theme "The Future of Korea Transformed by Regionally Self-Sufficient Healthcare" at 10:30 a.m. on October 23 on a special stage in Hall 2B of BEXCO Exhibition Center 1.

The forum is designed to share central government policy directions and challenges facing regional healthcare providers and explore practical avenues for cooperation toward establishing a regionally self-sufficient healthcare system that enables residents to receive necessary medical services in their communities when they need them.

In Part 1, featuring thematic presentations, Son Young-rae, Assistant Minister for Regional, Essential and Public Healthcare at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, will present the government's policy direction and measures to strengthen regional healthcare under the theme "Strategies for Strengthening Regional, Essential, and Public Healthcare." Yang Jae-wook, President of Inje University Busan Paik Hospital, will then discuss the roles of regional medical institutions and opportunities for cooperation in a presentation titled "Achieving Regionally Self-Sufficient Healthcare Through Local Strengths." Bae Jang-hwan, Director of the Cardiovascular Intervention Research Institute at Good Samsun Hospital, will present measures to ensure the long-term viability of regional healthcare systems under the theme "Sustainable Regionally Self-Sufficient Healthcare."

Part 2 will feature an in-depth panel discussion titled "Comprehensive Healthcare That Sustains Local Communities," moderated by Cho Won-ho, Dean of the Pusan National University School of Medicine. Panelists will include Cho Gyu-yul, Director-General of the Citizen Health Bureau of Busan Metropolitan City; Kim Sae-rom, Professor of Preventive Medicine at Inje University College of Medicine; and Ok Jin-a, Director of Onji Prolo Clinic. They will examine current conditions and challenges in regional healthcare and discuss various approaches to addressing gaps in essential medical services, strengthening cooperation among medical institutions, and establishing community-centered healthcare delivery systems.

Meanwhile, K-Medi Fair will feature a variety of programs organized by regional university hospitals and specialized hospitals, allowing citizens to experience firsthand the importance of managing their health.

The fair will offer practical health management programs, including health screenings, medical information, health consultations, and hands-on medical experiences, creating more opportunities for communication between regional medical institutions and citizens.

Through these programs, the city aims to highlight the outstanding medical capabilities of regional healthcare institutions, raise public awareness of health issues, and encourage citizens to adopt sound health management practices.

KIMES BUSAN 2026, a specialized medical equipment exhibition, will also take place, showcasing the latest developments in advanced medical technologies and the healthcare industry, including medical artificial intelligence (AI), digital healthcare, medical imaging and diagnostic equipment, and hospital facilities.

The exhibition is also expected to enhance the competitiveness of the regional healthcare industry by expanding opportunities for information exchange and cooperation among medical device companies, healthcare institutions, and other industry stakeholders.

Information on how to participate and further details about the event are available on the official KOMED 2026 website at https://www.komedbusan.kr.

Cho Gyu-yul, Director-General of the Citizen Health Bureau of Busan Metropolitan City, said, "Establishing regionally self-sufficient healthcare is a key priority for regional healthcare, ensuring that citizens can receive the medical services they need in a timely manner within their own communities."

He added, "I hope KOMED 2026 will serve as an opportunity for the government and regional medical community to work together to identify solutions to regional healthcare challenges and for Busan to take the lead in establishing a regionally self-sufficient healthcare system."