South Korea opens specialised hospital for ALS patients in Yongin
The Seungil Hope Nursing Hospital opened following a 14-year fundraising effort involving 350,000 donors and celebrity contributions.
The Seungil Hope Nursing Hospital officially opened in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, on March 31, 2025, according to the Times of India. The facility is South Korea's first nursing hospital dedicated to patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other severe neuromuscular disorders.
The 76-bed hospital was built with a total investment of 23.9 billion won. This amount included roughly 12 billion won from government funding and 11.9 billion won from public donations. The project was supported by around 350,000 individual contributors, corporate partners, and government sources.
The foundation behind the hospital was established in 2011 by singer Sean and former professional basketball coach Park Seung-il, who was diagnosed with ALS at age 31. Park died in September 2024, six months before the facility opened.
In July 2023, actor and singer Cha Eunwoo donated 10 million won to an ALS awareness campaign after being nominated by actor Lee Jung-jae. Cha, a member of the group ASTRO, also encouraged public attention for those with rare illnesses and nominated Yoon San-ha, Moon Ga-young, and Park Gyu-young to continue the campaign.
Spanning 5,000 square metres, the hospital features two basement levels, four floors above ground, rehabilitation facilities, and areas for family visitation and recreation. The facility aims to provide round-the-clock care and specialised services for patients who may lose the ability to walk, speak, or breathe independently.