New 24/7 Pediatric Clinic Launches in Guro and Seongbuk

On March 9, 2025, it was announced that our children’s hospital (우리아이들병원) in Guro, Seoul, will begin operating a 24-hour clinic called the '79 Clinic' starting next month. This clinic will cater to mild and moderate pediatric cases year-round. The Seongbuk branch of the same medical foundation will also provide 24-hour services, marking a first for pediatric hospitals in South Korea.

On February 24, 2025, at 8:30 PM, the Guro hospital was bustling with patients, with 15 children waiting for treatment, primarily for mild ailments like low-grade fevers and rashes. One parent, Kim (36) from Yeongdeungpo, expressed the need for late-night medical services, stating, 'As a working parent, I can't take my child to a local clinic after work. It would be a relief to have a clinic available at night and even in the early morning.'

Currently, the operating hours for the 107 government-designated nighttime and holiday clinics, known as 'Dalbit Children's Hospitals,' only extend until midnight on weekdays. This limitation often leaves parents in a dilemma about whether to call emergency services or wait until the next morning for treatment. The new initiative by our children’s hospital aims to fill this gap. Jeong Seong-gwan, the director of the medical foundation, emphasized that when a child is unwell, parents often find themselves in urgent situations, even if it’s not an emergency. The goal is to provide a supportive environment where parents can rely on the clinic like a friend in times of need.

The Guro hospital currently employs 18 specialists, including 16 pediatricians, while the Seongbuk branch has 18 staff members across pediatrics and psychiatry. To support the 24-hour operation, the hospital plans to hire an additional eight doctors, including pediatric and emergency medicine specialists. They are also seeking more nurses and clinical staff. In cases where a child’s condition is serious during late-night visits, the hospital will ensure quick transfers to affiliated emergency rooms.

Similar systems are already in place in countries like the United States and Canada, where mild cases are directed to urgent care clinics instead of emergency rooms, allowing emergency staff to focus on severe cases. In South Korea, the burden of emergency room costs for mild cases has increased significantly, highlighting the need for more accessible medical facilities during off-hours.

Additionally, the Gangnam District Health Center in Seoul is preparing to launch an 'Emergency Care Clinic' aimed at reducing service gaps for patients of all ages, providing care even when local clinics are closed. This initiative is a long-term goal of Lee Jong-cheol, the head of the Gangnam Health Center, who is known for being the personal physician of the late Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee. Although initially planned to open earlier this year, the clinic is now set to launch in the second half of 2025 due to challenges in recruiting specialists.