Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea -- The 51st Medical Group phase one hospital expansion was celebrated during a ribbon-cutting ceremony that took place Dec. 12, 2016, here.

The expansion is one of four construction projects to renovate and expand the Osan Hospital that is projected to be complete in 2018 to accommodate the steady influx of personnel and their families.

“The prosperity of Korea over the last 30 years, the move with tour normalization and the expansion to command sponsorship and several other factors have made it very necessary to become more of community hospital,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Krystal Murphy, 51st Medical Group commander.

The expansion has added 26,395 square feet to the hospital that houses a new clinics for family health, women’s health, pediatrics, a command area, education and training, and resource management.

“This is truly about expanding health-care coverage across the peninsula to provide the best medical services, particularly for those here on Osan Air Base,” said U.S. Army Col. Stephen Bales, U.S. Army Corps of Engineer Far East District commander.

The $34 million expansion enables greater health care capabilities to nearly 15,000 personnel and families living on Osan Air Base.