The Gyeonggi Medical Association has resolved a 20-year legal dispute and title-deed omission regarding its headquarters site in Yongin, according to statements released by the association. The settlement removes the threat of demolition for the building and secures additional property rights for the organization.
The dispute began in 2006 when the 30th executive committee purchased the land in Yeongdeok-dong, Giheung-gu, and subsequently built a three-story headquarters with a 750-square-meter gross floor area in 2010, according to association records. Due to administrative errors during the purchase process, the organization failed to secure title deeds for 323 square meters of the property despite paying the full purchase price. This left the building categorized as an unauthorized structure on third-party land, forcing the association to pay monthly land rent and engage in prolonged litigation with the landowner.
When the 34th executive committee took office in 2018 under President Lee Dong-wook, the association had lost all related lawsuits, including an impending demolition order that threatened the physical existence of the headquarters, according to local reports. President Lee adopted a direct, pragmatic approach rather than relying solely on adversarial legal arguments, communicating directly with the landowner to reach a resolution.
Alongside resolving the initial title dispute, the current executive committee secured an additional 399 square meters of adjacent land for a parking lot, completing the transfer of ownership for that parcel as well, according to the Gyeonggi Medical Association. With the legal obstacles cleared, the association is shifting its focus toward broader public health initiatives and member services.
Medical Outreach and Humanitarian Aid
While managing the property dispute, the Gyeonggi Medical Association dispatched a 66-member medical volunteer team—including 16 medical professionals—to Mongolia from July 1 to July 5, according to association data. During the five-day mission, the team provided 2,500 patients total medical services, which included 4,158 consultations, 487 surgical procedures, and 618 endoscopic ultrasound examinations.
President Lee noted that the association has conducted these missions in Mongolia for four consecutive years, positioning the program among the notable international medical volunteer efforts organized by a regional medical body in South Korea. The initiative aims to showcase advanced medical standards internationally while fulfilling humanitarian obligations.
Educational Programming and Member Services
Domestically, the association prioritizes practical educational content for its members, particularly through its annual academic conference, which draws over 10,000 attendees per event, according to association figures. Organizers focus on clinical management and professional development to support physicians in their daily practices.
“We will move forward as a medical association that fulfills its social responsibilities for the public, having resolved the legal disputes that have held us back for a long time,” Lee said regarding the future direction of the organization.
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