Burjeel Hospital Abu Dhabi inaugurates Korean Pavilion

Korean medical expertise and technology – dubbed as K-HEALTH to differentiate from the global K-POP phenomenon – have been on the upswing in the Gulf even before the Novel Coronavirus pandemic; and recently, a highly-specialised centre, featuring these, was inaugurated in the capital.

This is the Korean Pavilion at the Burjeel Hospital of the Abu Dhabi-headquartered tertiary care-focused Burjeel Holdings, wherein aside from its director, Dr. Jisoon Park, six other board-certified specialists complete the core. They are Otoralyngology consultant Dr. Kyu Hwan Jung, Neurosurgery/Spine consultant Dr. Seung Heon Yang, Orthopaedics Surgery/Knee and Hip consultant Dr. Seongeun Byun, Urology consultant Dr. Seungbae Lee, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialist Dr. Ki Yun Huh, and Periodontics and Implantology specialist Dr. Gyungjoon Chae.

Dr. Park told Gulf Today on Tuesday that the specialities were selected, based on the strong demand and the consistent observation “over the years, that patients from the UAE and the wider region travelled to South Korea for advanced diagnostics, complex surgeries, and structured rehabilitation programmes.” The Orthopaedics Surgery/Shoulder and Upper Limb consultant was pressed on for the need for the Korean Pavilion: “There is a clear and growing need.”

Citing that overseas travel “involves logistical challenges, higher costs, and limited continuity care,” Dr. Park added: “The Korean Pavilion addresses this gap by providing access to the same expertise locally. It also enhances the patient experience through a coordinated, patient-centric model where care is delivered seamlessly, improving efficiency, comfort and clinical outcomes.”

Burjeel Holdings “initiated the efforts to bring that expertise closer to patients by integrating Korean-trained specialists and clinical pathways within its own ecosystem.”

On the other hand, Park replied that the partnership is “primarily a business-to-business initiative between Burjeel Hospital Abu Dhabi and leading Korean medical institutions, including Korea University Anam Hospital.” With this, apart from the “strategic vision to localise globally-recognised medical expertise in a structured and patient-centric manner,” other factors considered, leading to a signed Memorandum of Understanding, particularly between Burjeel Hospital Abu Dhabi and Korean University Anam Hospital, ahead of the April 8 opening, are the “strengthening of clinical collaboration, knowledge exchange and operational integration.”

Meanwhile, Korea University Anam Hospital is located in the Seongbuk-go District in Seoul.

The district is home to 566 other medical institutions and international medical centres, according to a Dec. 31, 2024 data of the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) published on Sept. 16, 2025.

From the data, international medical tourists in the district were at 1,698 in 2020; 3,320 in 2021; 3,694 in 2022; 4,274 in 2023; and 3,272 in 2024. SMG noted that in 2024, international medical tourists in all of the 21,201 facilities and hospitals throughout the 25 districts of Seoul, were at 999,642 from 66,507 in 2020 and from 473,340 in 2023. Total medical expenditure from the medical tourists in 2024 was at 1.2 million Won.

According to Dr. Park, the global demand for K-HEALTH is robust because of its precision-driven approach particularly in surgery, advanced minimally-invasive techniques that decrease recovery time and improve patient experience, strong structured post-operative rehabilitation and recovery pathways, the meticulous coordination between and among specialities, and the continuous technological advancements, the purpose of which is ensuring high safety and efficiency standards.

UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development Undersecretary Hamad Sayah Al Mazrouei, and Embassy of the Republic of Korea Charge’ d’ Affaires Jung Kyung Park graced the inauguration hosted by Burjeel Holdings chairman and chief executive officer Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil and Board of Directors member Omran Al Khoori.

From the press release, Vayalil said: “Our goal is to remove the barriers that patients often face when seeking advanced medical care abroad. The Korean Pavilion is designed to deliver the same level of clinical excellence, precision, and rehabilitation protocols that patients associate with leading Korean institutions, but within a familiar and accessible environment.” “This is an important step in enhancing patient confidence, improving outcomes, and redefining how specialised care is delivered in the region,” Vayalil also stated.