"The Only City with a Population of One Million Without a Medical School: Changwon-si"

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kang Sharon] As the Blue House and the Democratic Party of Korea are considering increasing the number of medical school admissions to enhance infectious disease response capabilities such as COVID-19, Heo Seong-moo, mayor of Changwon City, Gyeongnam, expressed a strong will to attract a medical school.

At an executive meeting held on the 1st, Mayor Heo said, "Among cities with a population of one million, ours (Changwon City) is the only city without a medical school," adding, "We must establish a thorough cooperative system with Gyeongnam Province and Changwon National University to attract a medical school this time."

Changwon City is a metropolitan city with a population exceeding 1.05 million and is the only major city without universities for training medical personnel such as medical, dental, and pharmacy schools.

Mayor Heo emphasized that a medical school is necessary to retain young people.

He said, "Young students are leaving for other cities," and added, "There must be a high-level educational institution related to health and medical care."