PHNOM PENH – South Korea’s Ambassador has reaffirmed his country’s commitment to increasing support for Cambodia’s healthcare system. 

Park Jung-Wook was speaking during a visit to Preah Ang Duong Hospital (PADH) in Phnom Penh on March 20, where he toured the ear, nose and throat and the eye departments, both built with South Korean Official Development Assistance (ODA).

“PADH is one of the most successful examples of Korea-Cambodia development cooperation in the field of health,” Park said.

“The achievements that have been made by the PADH so far were possible not only due to the support from the Korean government but also through the efforts and dedication of the medical staff and workers.”

He said South Korea's commitment aligns directly with the goal of improving people’s health and well-being, a key pillar of Cambodia’s Pentagonal Strategy.

Citing Prime Minister Hun Manet's official visit to Seoul in 2024, during which ties between Cambodia and South Korea were elevated to Strategic Partnership, Park spoke of the need to foster development cooperation to reflect the strengthened political and economic partnership.

 “To this end, it is important to deepen and expand our cooperation by building on existing success stories of ODA, such as PADH, which has improved the quality of life for the Cambodian people,” he said. 

South Korea’s overseas aid for the health sector has surged steadily over the past years. 

The ambassador said South Korea will focus on enhancement of the Cambodian healthcare system and the development of the skills of Cambodian medical personnel through several significant initiatives. 

These include strengthening the capacity of the National Pediatric Hospital, which is set to operate from 2022 to 2027 with allocated funding of $16 million, and the improvement of public health services in Dangkor District Referral Hospital, taking place from 2024 to 2029 with an investment of $11 million.

Other initiatives include strengthening the comprehensive public health system in Ratanakiri province, scheduled from 2025 to 2030 with funding amounting to $7 million, and the University of Health Science Teaching Hospital Project, from 2022 to 2027 with funding of $80 million.

PADH director Professor Lou Lykheang, who accompanied the ambassador during his visit, said South Korea’s support had helped PADH become one of Cambodia’s core national hospitals, mainly due to its expertise in the ear, nose and throat and ophthalmology departments. 

The new eye clinic had performed twice as many eye surgeries and tripled the number of outpatients since it opened in 2015. 

He also highlighted the achievements of the new ear, nose and throat department, which opened in 2022, noting that the hospital has seen an increase in patient numbers and is now performing high-precision operations for children and infants — procedures that had not been possible before the renewal.