President’s former doctor named new SNUH director

Former presidential doctor Suh Chang-suk has been appointed the new director of Seoul National University Hospital, officials said Monday.

Suh will replace current SNUH director Oh Byung-hee, who is stepping down later this month after three years.

According to the SNUH board of directors, three professors were shortlisted for the post and went through interview and voting among board members in early April.

Suh will start his tenure in June for three years. The 55-year-old is the youngest director to head SNUH since 1978.

Suh, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at SNUH, served as the doctor for President Park Geun-hye from September 2014 to February this year when he resigned to run for the post.

Suh graduated from the Seoul National University College of Medicine and headed the College of Medicine’s obstetrics and gynecology department before working for Cheong Wa Dae.

According to the current appointment system, a shortlist for the director of SNUH is delivered to and confirmed by the Education Ministry upon which the presidential office approves the appointment.

Yoon Byeong-woo, a professor of neurology from SNUH will replace Suh as the president’s doctor. President Park’s two former doctors were both professors in obstetrics and gynecology.

By Kim Da-sol (ddd@heraldcorp.com)