Seoul University Expresses Willingness to Expand Cooperation with Cambodia for AI-Powered Health Information System Development

Professor Yongkul Won, Director of Seoul University and a member of the Advisory Committee of the Economic Development Cooperation Fund of the Republic of Korea, has expressed his willingness to expand cooperation with the Cambodian Ministry of Health in developing health information systems, digital tools, and digital capacity building to support more efficient hospital management and service delivery. This willingness was expressed during a visit by Professor Yongkul Won and his accompanying delegation to the University Hospital Project, located at the third site of the University of Health Sciences, on July 30, 2026. Professor Yongkul Won stated that the University Hospital Project is not merely about constructing buildings, but about transforming funding into education and buildings into sustainable institutions. He envisions the University Hospital becoming Cambodia's first national university hospital, playing a crucial role in providing treatment to patients, conducting clinical training to standards for both students studying health sciences and health officials working in various health institutions. According to Assistant Professor Borey Sotharith, Director of the University Hospital at the University of Health Sciences, the University Hospital will have a total of 200 inpatient beds and is expected to be completed by early 2027. He emphasized that the University Hospital has three core missions: providing quality and safe patient care and treatment, training health sciences students and promoting continuous professional development for healthcare personnel, and encouraging clinical research and innovation. The University Hospital also aims to become a model university hospital in the use of electronic medical record systems, digital technology, transparent management, and accountability. Furthermore, the University Hospital is set to become the first of its kind in Cambodia, serving as a vital pillar in enhancing the quality of healthcare services, research, and health sciences education, thereby contributing to the development of a sustainable and high-quality health system for Cambodia. It is recalled that this University Hospital project received approval from the Cambodian government to utilize a concessional loan from the government of the Republic of Korea amounting to USD 66.57 million. Construction officially began on December 9, 2024, with completion scheduled for March 2027. The hospital is being built on the third site of the University of Health Sciences, covering a total area of 22,243 square meters, with a length of 83.80 meters and a width of 59.80 meters. It will be an 8-story building with a capacity to accommodate 200 inpatients.