The establishment of the 'Safe Respiratory Specialty Center' promoted by Seoul City has been delayed by four years from the original plan, resulting in an increase in the expense to 800 million won. It was reported on the 13th that while local residents near the site in Boramae Park protested due to concerns about the spread of infectious diseases, construction costs surged with the outbreak of COVID-19.
◇ Seoul City promotes Safe Respiratory Specialty Center following the 2015 MERS outbreak
The Safe Respiratory Specialty Center was initiated in response to the MERS outbreak in 2015. At that time, nearly half of the domestic MERS cases (186 people) occurred at Samsung Medical Center, with 85 cases reported there. This highlighted the lack of specialized facilities for isolating patients within Seoul.
Accordingly, Seoul City set a goal to establish the Safe Respiratory Specialty Center equipped with up to 72 negative pressure isolation beds. Negative pressure facilities use pressure differentials to allow air to flow from uncontaminated areas to contaminated ones. This is aimed at isolating viruses and bacteria that can be transmitted through the air.
◇ Completion timeline pushed from 2024 to 2025 to 2028… Local residents express concern over 'infectious disease spread'
Initially, Seoul City planned to complete the Safe Respiratory Specialty Center by the end of last year. According to the '8th Civil Election Promises Implementation Plan' from 2023, the completion date for the center establishment project was set for December 2024.
However, the center establishment project has yet to even break ground. The status of the city's promise fulfillment indicated that the completion timeline was set for the end of this year, which has recently been pushed to 2028.
The delay in the center's completion is said to be influenced by local residents' opposition. Although the center was planned to be located in Boramae Park, some residents raised concerns that if infectious disease patients were concentrated in the center, it could lead to the spread of diseases in the area.
Seoul City held several explanation sessions to persuade residents in 2019, but the COVID-19 outbreak occurred in 2020, resulting in little progress in convincing the residents.
◇ Surge in construction costs and need for expensive equipment… Budget increased from 400 million won to 800 million won
As the establishment of the Safe Respiratory Specialty Center has been delayed, construction costs have skyrocketed. As of May this year, the construction cost index was recorded at 131.04. This indicates that construction costs have risen by over 31% in the last five years. This index reflects the costs for materials, labor, and equipment used in construction. Since COVID-19 first emerged in China in December 2019, construction costs have increased globally. Consequently, Seoul City had no choice but to increase the center's establishment budget.
Additionally, the key equipment that must be installed at the center, the negative pressure facilities, are estimated to cost between 200 million to 300 million won each. To install all 72 facilities as planned, a minimum of 14.4 billion won is required. Initially, Seoul City reflected a lesser amount in the initial budget.
As a result, Seoul City has increased the initially projected budget for the center's establishment from 400 million won to 800 million won. The planned structure, originally designed to be three stories underground and three above, has reportedly been reduced to two stories underground and two above.
Seoul City plans to commence the establishment of the center in earnest in the second half of the year. Demolition work on other facilities at the site is expected to begin as early as October. A city official noted, 'Conflicts with local residents have all been resolved, and the establishment has been delayed due to budget reallocation,' adding, 'We aim to proceed with the center's establishment targeting completion in 2028.'