"Review the Counterproposal" vs "Impossible"... Suncheon National University and Mokpo National University to Resume Medical School Negotiations on the 27th

Mokpo University Accepts Suncheon University's Request, Set for Another Meeting After One Week
Tensions Rise Over Suncheon’s "Counterproposal" - Will the Two Sides Find a Dramatic Compromise?

Mokpo National University and Suncheon National University, which have found no middle ground regarding the establishment of a national medical school in the Jeonnam-Gwangju region, will return to the negotiating table after one week.

According to the academic community on July 25, Mokpo National University has accepted Suncheon National University’s request to resume discussions on the location of the integrated university headquarters, medical school, and university hospital. The two sides have agreed to meet on July 27 in the afternoon at a midpoint between the two regions.

National Mokpo University (top), National Suncheon University (bottom)

This meeting was initiated at the request of Suncheon National University. Earlier, on July 23, Suncheon National University had sent an official letter to Mokpo National University, urging a response regarding a new schedule for negotiations. Suncheon National University stated, "The proposal from the Jeonnam-Gwangju Grand Transition Planning Committee is merely a recommendation to facilitate agreement between the two universities," and added, "Nevertheless, it is inappropriate for Mokpo National University to outright exclude Suncheon National University’s counterproposal from consideration." This was given as the reason for proposing renewed negotiations.

The rift between the two universities deepened following the "compromise" suggested by the transition team for Special Mayor Min Hyungbae on July 2. At that time, the transition committee proposed initially establishing the integrated university headquarters and medical school in Mokpo, with the university hospital to be developed in stages. They also suggested that Suncheon should first be home to a university hospital with at least 500 beds.

Mokpo National University announced its unconditional acceptance of the plan and welcomed it, while Suncheon National University, after gathering opinions from its members and the local community, firmly took a stance of non-acceptance.

Subsequently, after the Grand Transition Planning Committee stated, "We will respect the results of autonomous negotiations between the two universities," the vice presidents of both sides met in Boseong, Jeollanam-do, on July 20. However, the meeting ended with both sides reconfirming their conflicting positions.

During this process, Suncheon National University presented a so-called "counterproposal" that completely opposed the transition committee’s plan. The following day, Suncheon National University formally submitted this proposal to Mokpo National University in the form of an official electronic document, with tensions between the two sides intensifying as a result.

Regarding Suncheon National University’s counterproposal, Mokpo National University officially responded and dismissed it on July 22. Mokpo National University stated, "The counterproposal, which rejects the transition committee’s plan, is deemed unfeasible and does not require separate consideration," and expressed displeasure, saying, "We regret that you have reintroduced a plan that the integrated special city has already made clear it cannot accept."

With both sides maintaining strong positions—either "non-acceptance" or "expression of regret"—the local community is closely watching to see whether any dramatic compromise over the location of the medical school can be achieved at the renegotiation scheduled for July 27.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.