Suncheon City and Local Political Leaders: "Suncheon National University Medical School and University Hospital Should Be Established Together"

Guaranteeing the Right to Life for 800,000 Residents in the Eastern Region
and Bridging Healthcare Disparities
"Details Needed on University Hospital Size, Functions, and Financing Plan"

Suncheon City in the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City and local political leaders have unanimously called for the simultaneous establishment of a medical school at Suncheon National University and the construction of a university hospital to address healthcare disparities in the eastern region of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City.

On the 26th, Son Hunmo, Mayor of Suncheon, National Assembly Members Kim Moonsu and Kwon Hyangeop, Suncheon City Council members, and Suncheon district members of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City Council issued a joint statement, urging the establishment of a medical school and a university hospital at Suncheon National University to protect the right to life for 800,000 residents in the eastern region and to fill gaps in essential medical services.

On the 26th, Son Hunmo, Mayor of Suncheon, and related officials announced a joint statement in the main conference room of Suncheon City Hall. (From left: Shin Minho, Special City Councilor; Kwon Hyangyeop, National Assembly member; Kim Moonsu, National Assembly member; Son Hunmo, Mayor; Yoo Youngcheol, Chairperson of the City Council; Kim Junghui, Special City Councilor). Provided by Suncheon City

In the joint statement, they explained that although the eastern region has a high concentration of population and industrial facilities—with high demand for severe, emergency, and essential medical care—there are neither university hospitals nor advanced general hospitals in the area. As a result, critically ill and emergency patients are forced to travel long distances to Gwangju or the Seoul metropolitan area, causing a persistent medical service gap.

They particularly emphasized that medical schools and university hospitals are core public healthcare foundations, where the development of medical professionals, clinical education, and treatment for severe and emergency patients are organically linked. Therefore, the establishment of a medical school and university hospital should not be driven by the interests of a specific university or region; rather, it must be pursued within the framework of national public health policy, considering actual healthcare needs, accessibility, and efforts to close regional healthcare gaps.

Additionally, they pointed out that Suncheon is the administrative, transportation, and educational center of the eastern part of the Integrated Special City. The city possesses both the accessibility and infrastructure necessary to fulfill regional healthcare demand, and Suncheon National University, as a regional national base university in the eastern area, must be equipped to cultivate medical talent and establish a public healthcare system for the region.

Accordingly, they called on relevant government ministries and agencies, including the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, to objectively assess the region’s healthcare needs, accessibility, and educational conditions, and to responsibly push forward with the establishment of a medical school and university hospital at Suncheon National University.

They also urged a prompt decision on the number of students to be admitted and the procedures for establishing the medical school. Furthermore, they called for the detailed preparation of specifics, such as the size and functions of the university hospital, the construction schedule, and financing plans.

They stated that they respect the voluntary discussions and outcomes between Suncheon National University and Mokpo National University.

They concluded by saying that the region will marshal its collective capabilities to ensure that Suncheon National University establishes a medical school and university hospital, become the central university in the eastern region of the Integrated Special City, and play a vital role in critical and emergency healthcare.

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