Amid Mokpo National University Medical School Controversy... Did Mokpo City Hold Behind-the-Scenes Talks on 'Converting Mokpo City Medical Center'?

Mokpo Culture Solidarity Calls on Mayor Kang Seong-hwi to Disclose Details of Consultations
"If Alternative Measures Were Discussed After Calling for a Review, Explain Them to Residents"

As the controversy over attracting a medical school to Mokpo National University enters its second month, debate is growing over whether Mokpo City was involved, after Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City began considering a change in the operating structure of Mokpo City Medical Center and the construction of a separate university hospital-level general hospital as follow-up measures.

Exterior view of Mokpo City Medical Center.

The coalition issued a statement calling on Mokpo City to "clearly explain to its citizens when, with whom, and how discussions concerning Mokpo City Medical Center, a public asset of Mokpo residents, took place."

The controversy resurfaced on October 13 during a municipal affairs question session at the Integrated Special City Council.

Choi Seon-guk, a member of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City Council, pointed out that proposals were being discussed for measures to address healthcare needs in the southwestern region following Mokpo National University's failure to be selected for a medical school, including converting Mokpo City Medical Center into a special city medical center and building a 500-bed university hospital-level medical institution.

Mayor Min Hyung-bae of Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City reportedly responded that "four official meetings have been held, and I understand that opinions are continually being heard and coordinated between the central government and local governments."

Citing this remark, the coalition says the city must clearly state whether it actually participated in the consultations.

The group said, "If the Integrated Special City discussed with the central government changing the operator of Mokpo City Medical Center without any consultation with Mokpo City, that would be an administrative power grab that excludes Mokpo residents' assets," adding, "Mokpo City should have immediately demanded that the discussions stop and issued an official position."

The group also pointed out that the issue could be even more serious if Mokpo City had already been holding behind-the-scenes discussions with the Integrated Special City.

The coalition said, "If the mayor and city officials publicly joined residents in questioning the fairness of the process for selecting Mokpo National University for a medical school while privately discussing converting the medical center or building a hospital to make up for the failed bid, they must explain the circumstances to residents."

The coalition had also called on Mayor Min to halt the related discussions through social media on September 24, and urged Mokpo City to state its official position and response plan.

The group says that, to date, Mokpo City has not officially disclosed whether consultations took place or what was discussed.

The coalition stressed that attracting a medical school to Mokpo National University and building a large hospital are fundamentally different issues.

Attracting a medical school is not simply a matter of increasing the number of hospital beds; it concerns the entire healthcare system in the southwestern region, including the training and education of medical professionals and research.

The coalition said, "Building a hospital with 500 beds at a cost of several hundred billion won must not become a measure intended to provide a pretext for covering up the failed effort to attract a medical school to Mokpo National University," adding, "Pursuing alternative healthcare measures before resolving the controversy over the fairness of the medical school selection process is also out of step with the demands of the local community."

The coalition stressed that, because Mokpo City Medical Center is a public asset of Mokpo residents, public consultation and thorough review must come first if a change in its operator or a major overhaul of its functions is pursued.

The coalition called on Mokpo Mayor Kang Seong-hwi to disclose whether he had consulted with the Integrated Special City about converting the medical center or building a university hospital-level facility and, if so, when the discussions began, who took part, and what was discussed.

It also urged the city to clearly explain how those discussions relate to the demand for a review of Mokpo National University's medical school bid.

Local political circles say the key issue in the controversy is not the construction of a hospital itself, but when Mokpo City began participating in the discussions and what position it took.

If the city sought a review of the medical school selection while also discussing alternative healthcare measures, it has a responsibility to explain this to residents. Conversely, if the Integrated Special City held discussions while excluding Mokpo City, the city must explain why it did not formally raise objections.

The coalition said, "Mokpo City must no longer remain silent," adding, "Because the region's long-term future and healthcare sovereignty are at stake, the city must immediately disclose the relevant information and fulfill its responsibility to the end by addressing the fundamental issue of ensuring a fair process for attracting a medical school."

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