Controversy Grows Over 'Land Privilege' for Jeonnam Medical School... 12 Mokpo Politicians and Citizens Shave Heads in Protest

Twelve Local Leaders, Including Kim Woni and Kang Seonghwi, Join Head-Shaving Protest

"Not a Regional Conflict, but an Issue of Fairness"

Calls for Direct Supervision and Fair Reselection by the Ministry of Education

The Mokpo local community has launched a protest in Seoul by shaving their heads in opposition to the selection of Suncheon National University as the candidate for the establishment of a new national medical school in the Jeonnam region. They pointed out unfairness in the evaluation process, such as the requirements for securing the site, and called for a complete reconsideration from the beginning.

According to Mokpo National University and the local political community on the 6th, a total of 12 local figures from Mokpo held a group head-shaving ceremony in front of the Presidential Office the previous day. Participants included Assemblyman Kim Woni, Mokpo Mayor Kang Seonghwi, Mokpo National University professors Ryu Dongyoung and Lim Hangyu, Mokpo City Council Chairman Lee Hyungwan, Special Committee Chairman for Medical School Attraction Park Yongsik, Unified Metropolitan City Councilors Choi Seonguk, Choi Junghoon, and Kang Seongchan, and Mokpo City Councilors Park Hyosang, Lee Jeongsang, and Kim Hohan.

On the 5th, in front of the Presidential Office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 12 figures from the Mokpo area, including Representative Kim Won-I and Mayor Kang Seong-hwi of Mokpo, collectively shaved their heads to condemn the fairness of the public competition process for establishing a medical school in the Jeonnam region. Photo provided by Representative Kim Won-I's office

Their main issue centers on the "securing of land for the medical school." Assemblyman Kim Woni strongly criticized, "While Mokpo National University already owns the site, Suncheon National University only submitted a confirmation letter for free lease of city-owned land, which does not meet the legal requirements. Recommending them as a candidate without proper verification represents a hasty administrative process by the Unified Metropolitan City and the Jeonnam Research Institute, and is a clear case of dereliction of duty."

He went on to say, "There is even suspicion that the Unified Metropolitan City intends to use its budget to solve Suncheon National University's land ownership issue," demanding that Mayor Min Hyungbae of the Unified Metropolitan City immediately withdraw the recommendation of Suncheon National University.

Lawmakers including Won-Ki Kim and Seong-Hwi Kang, Mayor of Mokpo, along with other figures from the Mokpo region, argued that Suncheon National University did not meet the legal requirements and urged for the complete cancellation of the review results and a thorough re-examination from the beginning. Photo provided by the office of Won-Ki Kim

Mayor Kang Seonghwi also stated, "When considering the earnest wishes of Mokpo citizens who have waited 36 years, there was no other choice but to shave our heads," emphasizing, "This is not about conflict between regions, but about questioning the fairness of the procedure." He added, "I ask the President to personally review whether the requirements for securing the site were met and whether the healthcare vulnerability issue in the southwestern region was properly evaluated."

Currently, Mokpo National University has filed a "lawsuit to cancel the recommendation of the candidate university" in protest against the selection results. The participants in the head-shaving ceremony are demanding that the Ministry of Education immediately suspend the current evaluation procedure and that the state directly and fairly reselect the university to establish a new medical school.

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