Leadership vacuum persists at national university hospitals as presidential appointments stall

Although May has arrived, the appointment of a new president for Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) remains uncertain.

Leadership appointments at SNUH and other national university hospitals continue to be delayed, raising concerns that the leadership vacuum seen under the previous administration may be repeating itself.

Concerns are growing within the medical community as leadership appointments at national university hospitals, including Seoul National University Hospital, remain delayed. (KBR photo)

Since March, two final candidates selected by the hospital board for the 20th president of SNUH -- obstetrics and gynecology professor Park Joong-shin and rehabilitation medicine professor Paik Nam-jong of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (SNUBH) -- have been awaiting President Lee Jae Myung’s decision for nearly two months.

Incumbent SNUH President Kim Young-tae, whose term ended in March, has remained in office for more than a month beyond the expiration of his tenure.

The hospital experienced a similar situation during the appointment process for its 19th president, when former President Yoon Suk Yeol rejected all final candidates, forcing an unprecedented reselection process. Kim ultimately assumed the presidency after running again in the second round of selection, 10 months after former president Kim Yeon-soo’s term had ended.

The issue extends beyond SNUH.

Chungnam National University Hospital also selected a candidate for its 25th president in March, but the appointment process has yet to move forward, leaving outgoing president Cho Kang-hee continuing in an acting capacity. Meanwhile, with the term of Choi Guk-myung, president of Jeju National University Hospital, set to expire on May 9, it also remains unclear whether a successor will be appointed on time.

Except for Seoul National University Hospital, presidents of national university hospitals are formally appointed by the education minister following recommendations from hospital boards. Both Chungnam National University Hospital and Jeju National University Hospital previously operated for several months under acting leadership due to delays in presidential appointments.

As leadership selections continue to stall, frustration is mounting within hospitals. Staff members say stable management and internal coordination are difficult under temporary leadership structures. Critics also argue that the Lee Jae Myung administration, while emphasizing the strengthening of regional, essential and public healthcare, has effectively tied the hands of public medical institutions tasked with implementing those policies. Some have even speculated that all current candidates for national university hospital presidencies may have been rejected, as occurred during the previous case at Seoul National University Hospital.

A professor at SNUH, speaking anonymously to Korea Biomedical Review recently, said, “Because hospitals are operating under acting leadership, it is inevitable that new business initiatives are slowing down. Although things may appear stable on the surface, disruptions to ongoing projects are unavoidable. If the government wants its regional and public healthcare policies to move forward smoothly, swift appointments are urgently needed.”

Regarding rumors that neither of the two finalists had gained presidential approval this time either, the professor commented cautiously, saying, “That itself reflects the level of anxiety within the hospital. I do not believe President Lee would follow the unfortunate precedent set by the former president, who rejected all finalists.”

Another professor at SNUH added, “Each hospital is facing major pending issues, such as structural reforms and tertiary hospital designation reviews, but without leadership to direct them, internal anxiety and dissatisfaction are only growing. Internally, there has been virtually no communication, and everyone is simply waiting for the president’s decision.”

Still, some observers expect appointments for national university hospital presidents to proceed sequentially, citing the appointment of Kim Hae-young as the new president of Pusan National University Hospital on April 27, just before the Labor Day holiday period.

An official from SNUH said, “We will make an announcement once the presidential appointment is finalized.”