Naju hospital names new chief as it marks 70 years

The National Naju Hospital appointed Si Young-hwa as its 13th director on Thursday.

Si's term runs from Sept. 10, 2026, to Sept. 9, 2028, the health ministry said. The hospital held an inauguration ceremony Thursday in a seminar room at its psychiatric rehabilitation center.

A national psychiatric hospital under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Naju facility opened in 1956 and marked its 70th anniversary this year. It handles treatment and rehabilitation for people with mental illness, psychiatric emergency response, community mental health programs and psychological support after disasters, serving as the hub of public psychiatric care in the Honam region.

Si joined the hospital in 2001 and has held senior posts including chief of geriatric psychiatry from 2002 to 2009, chief of psychiatric rehabilitation from 2009 to 2015 and medical director from 2015 to 2024, and served as acting director from March 2025 to April 2026 and again from July to September this year, according to the ministry.

Outside the hospital, he has chaired South Jeolla Province's mental health review committee and sat on the province's committee reviewing treatment and protection for people with drug addiction.

"It is an honor to take office as director of the National Naju Hospital, which I have been part of for a long time, and at the same time I feel a heavy responsibility," Si said at the ceremony. He added that he would draw on the strength built over the past 70 years to make the hospital one of the country's best at safeguarding the public's mental health.