Status and Future Tasks of the Regional Infectious Disease Specialized Hospital Establishment Project for Responding to Large-scale Emerging Infectious Disease Crises.

Objectives: This study presents the policy background, implementation status, and future directions of the Regional Infectious Disease Specialized Hospital Establishment Project. This initiative was launched to overcome the structural weaknesses in the national medical response system exposed during the 2015 Middle East respiratory syndrome outbreak and to significantly enhanced preparedness for future emerging infectious disease threats. Methods: The project was institutionalized through the 2015 revision of the "Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act" and was subsequently followed by the designation of regional infectious disease specialized hospitals through a systematic competitive selection process. Following designation, the project has been implemented through phased reviews and adjustments in accordance with the Total Project Cost Management System mandated by the National Finance Act. Results: Beginning in 2017, regional infectious disease specialized hospitals have been established across five regions (Honam, Chungcheong, Gyeongnam, Gyeongbuk, and the Capital region). The Honam region has progressed to the construction phase, while the Chungcheong, Gyeongnam, and Gyeongbuk regions are in the design stage, and the Capital region is preparing for total project cost adjustment following the completion of the feasibility re-evaluation. Each hospital is built as an independent facility equipped with essential infrastructure such as negative-pressure wards (36 beds or more), negative-pressure operating rooms, high-containment laboratories, and education and training facilities. They function as regional hubs providing diagnosis, treatment, and training during non-crisis periods and offering critical patient isolation, treatment, and coordinated regional responses during public health emergencies. Conclusions: Regional infectious disease specialized hospitals serve as pivotal hubs for coordinating infectious disease preparedness and response during both non-crisis and crises. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency aims to reinforce the national medical safety net by advancing hospital construction while also establishing regional systems for workforce training, patient referral and transfer, and inter-institutional cooperation networks, even before hospital completion.