Patients evaluate a hospital by more than just clinical consultations and surgery. From an employee's initial greeting and attentive listening to clear treatment explanations and accurate patient verification, every touchpoint shapes patient trust. Marking its 43rd anniversary, Jeju Hanguk Hospital is renewing its focus on these core fundamentals of patient care.
Jeju Hanguk Hospital, operated by the Hyein Medical Foundation, announced on August 6 that it launched the "2026 Hanguk Hospital Basics Campaign" following a joint ceremony on July 31 marking the foundation's 23rd anniversary and the hospital's 43rd anniversary, attended by approximately 150 employees.
Under the slogan "A pleasant greeting, kindness that sets the standard," the campaign centers on gibon—a Korean term combining "good feeling" and "role model" to represent "the basics."
Six Core Behavioral Principles
The hospital established six core principles for all staff: greeting, empathy, listening, explanation, verification, and gratitude. The initiative applies across all departments, including clinical care, nursing, appointments, information desks, diagnostic testing, administration, and support teams.
While greeting, empathy, and listening address patient anxiety, thorough explanation and verification directly reinforce medical safety. Accurately confirming patient identification and procedural details goes beyond basic courtesy, serving as an essential component of clinical safety.
"From appointments and guidance to consultations, diagnostic tests, surgery, hospitalization, and support services, every customer touchpoint reflects Hanguk Hospital's capability and brand," said President Han Seung-tae. "By practicing kindness and collaboration rooted in the basics, we will build deep-seated trust and satisfaction that local residents can truly feel."
On-the-Ground Execution and Infrastructure Upgrades
To drive daily implementation, the hospital selected 12 staff members as "Blue Jacketers," who will wear signature blue jackets while leading courtesy and service initiatives throughout the facility.
"We hope all staff members become true Hanguk Hospital manner professionals by delivering pleasant greetings and setting the standard for kindness," said Moon Mi-hye, head of nursing and chair of the Basics Campaign Steering Committee. The ceremony also featured the debut of "Basics!", an upbeat campaign logo song created through an internal employee contest.
Alongside staff culture initiatives, Jeju Hanguk Hospital has upgraded its physical infrastructure and patient convenience facilities. In June, the hospital fully revamped its Digestive Disease Center with two state-of-the-art endoscopy systems. In May, it expanded its main entrance drop-off and pick-up zone to accommodate three to four vehicles simultaneously while adding a wheelchair ramp.
President Han outlined a broader vision to deliver high-level specialized care within Jeju so residents do not need to travel to mainland medical centers. "Hanguk Hospital's vision is to become the most trusted healthcare provider in Jeju—delivering capabilities in key specialized fields, such as joint and spine care, that rival university hospitals so that seeking care locally becomes the natural choice," Han said.
During the ceremony, the hospital presented long-service awards for 30, 20, and 10 years of service, as well as Employee of the Year honors to eight outstanding staff members, who were awarded an overseas hospital training trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
