Proton therapy infrastructure remains concentrated in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, leaving cancer patients in the southeastern region of South Korea to travel long distances for specialized radiation treatment.
Expanding Advanced Radiation Treatment Beyond the Capital
Proton therapy directs a proton beam precisely at a tumor. Unlike standard X-ray radiation, protons deposit the bulk of their energy directly within the tumor mass and stop abruptly, a physical property known as the Bragg Peak. This mechanism minimizes radiation exposure to healthy tissues located behind the tumor, earning it recognition as an advanced treatment modality for pediatric and refractory cancers.
Currently, domestic access to this technology is restricted to two facilities: Samsung Medical Center in Seoul and the National Cancer Center in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province. Patients residing in Busan, Ulsan, South Gyeongsang Province, North Gyeongsang Province, and Daegu must travel to the capital region to receive the procedure.
DIRAMS head Jung Seung-pil organized the Oct. 29 symposium, titled "Establishment of the Southeastern Proton Therapy Center," to advance these infrastructure plans through public and expert consultation.
Dual-Purpose Infrastructure for Medicine and Advanced Industry
Proton accelerators have industrial and scientific applications outside clinical oncology. Discussions at the National Assembly forum will evaluate using the proposed center as a research and development hub for space radiation research—specifically studying how cosmic radiation affects the human body—and for testing the radiation tolerance of semiconductors used in artificial satellites.
The symposium program features three formal presentations examining these medical and industrial dimensions:
- Han Young-yi, a professor at the Samsung Medical Center Proton Therapy Center, will present on international trends, domestic feasibility, and policy considerations for adopting additional proton therapy capacity.
- Shin Byung-chul, vice president of Nature Flower Semiconductor, will discuss the role of a proton therapy center in connection with the power semiconductor industry.
- Yoo Do-sol, head of strategic research and development at the DIRAMS Research Center, will outline the clinical necessity of proton therapy and its value as national strategic infrastructure.
Following the presentations, a panel discussion will be chaired by DIRAMS head Jung Seung-pil.
Regional Integration and Future Outlook
DIRAMS operates as a public research institution affiliated with the Ministry of Science and ICT. The institute aims to position the planned center as both a clinical healthcare facility and a foundational asset for space and semiconductor engineering.
Representative Jung Dong-man, who hosted the forum, stated that the southeastern region should be developed into an advanced cancer treatment hub combining proton therapy with heavy-ion treatment—similar to models in Japan and Taiwan.
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