Hwasun Hospital: From Cluster Seed to Immunotherapy Hub Aspirations

Hwasun Jeonnam National University Hospital is renowned for cancer treatment, with a reputation that speaks for itself. As one insider stated, "If you want to survive cancer, come to Hwasun." Located 40 minutes from Gwangju Songjeong Station, the hospital is surrounded by a serene 49,000㎡ healing forest filled with dense pine and cypress trees, creating an environment conducive to both treatment and healing.

Hwasun’s rise as a healthcare hub was supported by strategic planning. The hospital was chosen under the government's 1st Five-Year Plan for Balanced National Development (2004-2008), and in 2008, the South Jeolla Provincial Government included it as a key project in its 3rd Comprehensive Development Plan, positioning it to become a healthcare and biotech leader.

Opening in April 2004, the hospital implemented a patient-centered collaborative care system, achieving top rankings in a 2005 Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) evaluation. Within three years, it became one of Korea’s "Big 5" hospitals for the number of surgeries performed for six major cancers.

The hospital continues to excel in cancer treatment, consistently achieving high rankings in cancer-specific assessments and five-year survival rates. In 2024, it was recognized as one of the "World’s Best Specialized Hospitals" by Newsweek for the fourth consecutive year, alongside Seoul National University Hospital. Remarkably, Hwasun is the only hospital outside Seoul to receive this honor, despite lower medical demand in non-metropolitan areas.

The Hwasun Vaccine Industry Special Zone, designated as a "National High-Tech Strategic Industry Specialization Complex" in the biotech sector, hosts a thriving bio and medical cluster. The cluster includes Hwasun Jeonnam National University Hospital, Jeonnam National University’s Hwasun Medical Campus, and the Biomedical Science Convergence Center, among others.

The Biomedical Science Convergence Center houses multiple research and development facilities and biotech companies like CN Cure, which focuses on bacterial cancer therapies. CN Cure’s collaboration with Jeonnam National University’s medical school strengthens its R&D capabilities, accelerating the commercialization of innovative technologies.

Opened in November 2023, the National Immunotherapy Innovation Center is a key part of the Hwasun Medical Cluster. Supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT, Jeollanam-do, and Hwasun County, the center is dedicated to developing and commercializing immunotherapies for cancer patients. Hyung-joo Lim, team leader at the center, emphasized the value of Hwasun’s 20-year accumulation of cancer data, which supports cutting-edge research and collaboration within the medical cluster.

The center, originating from the National Immunotherapy Platform Project, serves as an open innovation platform for immunotherapy commercialization. Completed in July 2023, the four-story facility includes research labs, meeting rooms, and shared equipment spaces, accommodating companies such as DR. Cure, Vaxcell-Bio, Selecxine, and Human&Bio.

Key achievements include the establishment of an open innovation accelerator system, discovery of next-generation immunotherapy pipelines, and facilitation of rapid clinical trials. The center has formed strategic partnerships with institutions like Jeonnam National University, Samsung Medical Center, and GC Biopharma to advance biotech R&D, new drug development, and clinical research.

Team Leader Lim concluded, "Our goal is to enable the commercialization of innovative immunotherapies. By providing support in research, equipment, and collaborations, we aim to foster significant advancements in cancer treatment."