Green Doctors, an international medical volunteer organization that operated the Kaesong Inter-Korean Cooperation Hospital in North Korea’s Kaesong Industrial Complex, has announced plans to reopen the facility if inter-Korean relations improve.
At the 2025 Volunteer Day event held on December 20 at On Hospital in Busan’s Busanjin district, Dr. Jeong Geun, chairman of the Green Doctors Foundation and director of the On Hospital Group, stated that the sweat and life-saving efforts at the Kaesong Hospital are invaluable assets for both Koreas. He expressed optimism for renewed medical cooperation, noting that political situations can change rapidly.
Dr. Jeong spearheaded the Kaesong Hospital project since Green Doctors was designated as a North Korea business operator by the Ministry of Unification in 2004. Until the organization’s withdrawal in December 2012, it effectively managed the hospital, providing free medical care for North and South Korean workers and facilitating inter-Korean medical exchanges.
From January 2005 to December 2012, Green Doctors operated the Kaesong Hospital, offering free medical services to workers from both Koreas and supplying approximately 60 billion KRW (about 40.5 million USD) worth of medicines.
During this eight-year period, the hospital served around 350,000 workers.
Last month, Green Doctors organized a seminar at the National Assembly titled, Prospects for the Resumption of the Kaesong Industrial Complex and Exploring Inter-Korean Medical Cooperation. The event featured discussions with key figures including Deputy Speaker Lee Hak-young of the Democratic Party, Vice Minister of Unification Kim Nam-jung, and Chairman Yoo Seong-ok of the National Security Strategy Institute. Awards were also presented to individuals who made significant contributions to the Kaesong Hospital.