 In 1998, KMC, in agreement with the Kaohsiung Municipal Government, acquired an additional teaching hospital, the Hsiao-kang Hospital.The Kaohsiung Medical College was re-shaped into the Kaohsiung Medical University (KMU) in August 1999 with the permission of the Ministry of Education, Taiwan.KMU was rated "superior" by the Ministry of Education, Taiwan in all categories of the "Mid-term School Administration Development Plan."