Democratic Party Jeonnam-Gwangju City Chapter Welcomes Selection of Suncheon National University as National Medical School Candidate

Focusing Party Efforts on Opening by 2030 and Securing Annual Enrollment of 100 Students

Min Hyung-bae: "Expanding University Hospital-Level Infrastructure in Non-Selected Regions"

The Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City Chapter of the Democratic Party of Korea (hereinafter referred to as the City Chapter) has welcomed the selection of the National Suncheon University as the candidate for the establishment of a new national medical school. The City Chapter announced its plan to focus its party efforts on ensuring the school opens in 2030 and secures an annual enrollment quota of 100 students. In addition, it presented a plan to promote balanced development between the east and west of the region by enhancing university hospital-level medical infrastructure at Mokpo National University and in the western area, which were not selected, thereby making the new national medical school an opportunity for mutual growth.

On the 30th, the City Chapter released a statement signed by its Chairperson, Ahn Dogeol, stating, "The final candidate university to lead the establishment of a long-awaited national medical school in Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City has been selected," adding, "We sincerely welcome the selection of a single candidate."

Min Hyung-bae, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City in Jeonnam, is briefing on current issues related to the National Medical University on the afternoon of the 30th at the briefing room of the Gwangju Government Office. Provided by Jeonnam Gwangju Metropolitan City Integration Special City

On this day, Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City decided to recommend National Suncheon University to the government as the candidate for the new national medical school.

The Jeonnam Research Institute served as the dedicated review body, organizing a review committee comprised of eight medical experts from across the nation. The committee conducted a document-based and presentation-based evaluation of Mokpo National University and Suncheon National University. As a result, Suncheon National University scored 89.15 points, while Mokpo National University scored 87.85 points, a difference of 1.3 points between the two universities.

The City Chapter emphasized that, with the candidate selection concluding local competition, it is now time for political circles, local government, and universities to unite toward the shared goal of establishing the national medical school.

The City Chapter further stated, "The intense competition during the review process has ended, and now only our shared task remains: ensuring the 'successful establishment of the national medical school' to protect the lives and health of 3.2 million special city residents." They added, "We will deeply embrace the spirit of 'regional mutual cooperation' agreed upon by the area's political circles on the 29th."

The key objectives specified were the opening of the new medical school in 2030 and securing an annual enrollment quota of 100 students. The City Chapter plans to work closely with central government and relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Education, to secure swift approval, and to focus efforts on obtaining national funding for the construction of medical school education and research facilities, as well as an affiliated hospital.

To this end, the City Chapter will utilize the 'Jeonnam-Gwangju Grand Leap Committee', in which the party leader will participate directly, to support the successful establishment of the national medical school and the balanced advancement of medical care between the east and west of the region. In addition, the 'National Assembly Support Committee', which will involve 18 local National Assembly members, will be activated to support the allocation of medical school enrollment quotas and secure national funding for the affiliated hospital. Regional committees will also be operated to develop plans for expanding local medical infrastructure.

The City Chapter also pledged support for Mokpo National University and the western area, which were not selected as candidates.

The City Chapter stated, "The location of a single national medical school does not determine our region's entire medical system," adding, "We will also work to nurture a key hospital with university hospital-level critical care capacity at Mokpo National University and in the relevant region, and ensure that essential and public healthcare infrastructure is expanded and exceptional incentives are provided as well."

Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City also decided to immediately begin preparing follow-up measures for the universities and regions that were not selected.

Mayor Min Hyung-bae stated, "The entire process does not end with the recommendation of the candidate university," adding, "Together with the selected university, we will submit the plan for the establishment of the national medical school to the government and smoothly complete the remaining procedures until the final decision."

He continued, "We will immediately establish practical development measures for the universities and regions that were not selected," adding, "By expanding university hospital-level medical infrastructure and enhancing the competitiveness of universities, we will establish a 'regionally complete medical system' so that, wherever you live in the integrated metropolitan city, you can receive timely, necessary care."

To this end, the special city plans to immediately form a dedicated task force to develop comprehensive plans for the advancement of medical, educational, and research sectors, based on the medical situation in non-selected regions and the strengths of their universities. Initiatives that can be implemented immediately will be prioritized and executed first.

Chairperson Ahn Dogeol stated, "This selection of the candidate is not about victory or defeat for a particular region, but a new starting point for Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City to come together as one," adding, "We will take full responsibility and see it through to the successful establishment of the national medical school."

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