"Vital Lifeline Cut Off" Suncheon Medical School Selection Triggers 'Panic' in Mokpo... Southwest Backlash Spreads

Demand for Detailed Evaluation Criteria After 1.3-Point Difference Loss
Requests for Solutions to Medical Disparities and Measures to Heal Divided Public Sentiment

Suncheon National University has been officially selected as the final candidate site for the establishment of a national medical school—a long-standing goal and the most important pending issue for Jeonnam Gwangju Metropolitan City. The fate of this 36-year-old regional project was decided by a mere 1.3-point difference, sparking a wildfire of protests from Mokpo and other regions in the southwest that failed to secure the school.

In particular, southwest residents are simultaneously leveling harsh criticism at their region’s political leaders for their passivity, while strongly pressuring Mayor Min Hyungbae, who led the decision, to provide a direct explanation and concrete follow-up measures.

On the afternoon of the 30th, Min Hyung-bae, former Mayor of Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City, announced at a press conference that Suncheon University is recommended as the candidate university for the establishment of a national medical school. Photo by Song Bohyun

"A Matter of Survival, Not Just Pride"…Backlash Over Southwest Politicians’ Complacency

Immediately after the announcement of the national medical school candidate site after 300 days of evaluation, communities in Mokpo and other southwest regions plunged into a state of ‘panic.’ Upon learning that only 1.3 points separated the chosen and rejected candidates, initial disappointment quickly escalated into uncontrollable anger.

Locals consider securing the medical school not merely as a matter of pride, but as an issue of ‘survival.’ A representative from a southwest civic organization stated, “The region, home to 41% of Korea’s inhabited islands—the country’s most underserved medical blind spot—has once again been thoroughly neglected. For 36 years, our residents have struggled to reach a tertiary hospital within three hours in emergencies. In the end, our right to life has been disregarded again.”

Most of all, southwest residents’ anger is now sharply directed at the political establishment's ‘complacent response.’ The campaign to attract the national medical school was initially sparked over 30 years ago by Mokpo National University, citing the need to improve the local medical infrastructure. Although Mokpo National University, as the ‘original’ contender, was considered a strong candidate, most analyses agree that it was ultimately overwhelmed by a relentless all-out effort by the eastern region.

According to local political circles, the eastern region formed an early and united front comprised of political leaders and civic groups. Suncheon Mayor Son Hunmo, National Assembly member Kim Moonsoo, and Suncheon City Council Chairman Yoo Youngchul braved downpours to participate in “three-steps-one-bow” street marches. These were followed by head-shaving protests by key figures, careful media campaigns, and large-scale rallies led by civic organizations—all aimed at shaping public opinion.

In contrast, politicians from the Mokpo area remained content with ‘30 years of vested interests’ and perceived legitimacy, limiting their involvement to issuing press releases or posting perfunctory messages on their personal social media accounts expressing hope for Mokpo National University’s selection. This lack of urgency and appeal strategies has drawn harsh criticism as evidence of a crushing defeat in both desperation and outreach.

Boiling Local Sentiment…"Mayor Min Hyungbae Must Answer Directly"

Public scrutiny over the procedural fairness of the decision is intensifying. Area residents have laid out five key issues that they believe Mayor Min Hyungbae must address directly before those who were left out, demanding a public response.

Above all, there is strong pressure for a clear explanation of why the so-called “medical school and headquarters in Mokpo, hospital in Suncheon” plan, discussed just a month ago by the city's transition committee, was abruptly and completely scrapped. In addition, residents are closely examining the 1.3-point difference that determined the outcome, particularly the 1.17-point gap in faculty recruitment plans. They are calling for transparent disclosure of the detailed evaluation guidelines and individual score sheets from each judge to ensure the objectivity of the decision.

There is also growing concern about how to address the impending healthcare disparity in the southwest as a result of losing the medical school. Residents are demanding not just words of consolation, but a concrete ‘separate proposal to the government’ specifying what extraordinary national support will be sought to strengthen the region’s devastated public and essential medical services.

Furthermore, citizens are pressing Mayor Min Hyungbae for responsible leadership in mending the divided local sentiment caused by this intense competition. They demand a clear political roadmap at the mayoral level to heal the widespread sense of loss in the southwest and to unite all 3.2 million residents of the metropolitan city.

Meanwhile, rather than celebrating their victory, Suncheon stakeholders have adopted a humble stance, emphasizing the importance of coexistence. Members of the Jeonnam Gwangju Metropolitan City Council from Suncheon stated in a press release, “We deeply respect and sympathize with the earnest hopes of Mokpo National University and the residents of the western region, as we know their aspirations were just as strong as ours.”

They added, “From here on, wasteful competition must end. We pledge to ensure that the establishment of the new medical school leads not to the exclusive benefit of any one region, but to improvements in the medical environment for all citizens of the metropolitan city through cooperation and mutual support.”

Although passing the initial hurdle of selecting a candidate university is a major step, the city now faces the daunting challenge of reconciling divided local sentiment. With the need for compensation measures such as establishing a new tertiary hospital in the areas that lost out becoming ever more urgent, Mayor Min Hyungbae’s political leadership is now being put to a true test as he works to resolve the deep internal conflict.

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