National University Forum Urges Establishment of New National Medical Schools Centered on 5 Countries

Over 300 Attendees Including Presidents of 5 Universities and Local Members of Parliament

National Mokpo University (President Song Ha-cheol) announced on the 11th that the "National Assembly Forum to Expand Regional Public Medical Personnel and Urge the Establishment of National Medical Schools," co-hosted with National Suncheon University (President Lee Byung-woon), National Andong University (President Jung Tae-joo), National Changwon University (President Lee Ho-young), and National Kongju University (President Lim Kyung-ho), and jointly sponsored by 14 local members of the National Assembly, will be held on the 14th at the National Assembly Library Auditorium.

On the 14th, a National Assembly forum will be held at the National Assembly Library Auditorium to expand regional public medical personnel and establish a national medical school.
[Photo by Mokpo National University]

At the forum, about 300 participants including the presidents of the five national central universities, local officials, and local members of the National Assembly will attend to announce a joint petition urging the establishment of national medical schools by region and to present and discuss topics on ways to resolve regional medical blind spots by region.

Professor Kim Yoon of Seoul National University College of Medicine, an authority in the public medical field, will give a keynote presentation on "Establishment of Regional National Medical Schools to Eliminate Medical Inequality Between Regions and Strengthening the Role of Local Governments." Experts from the five universities and officials from the Ministry of Health and Welfare will participate in a discussion on the underdeveloped medical conditions in the regions and the necessity of establishing medical schools.

Song Ha-cheol, president of National Mokpo University, which is organizing the event, said, "This National Assembly forum will be a place where national central universities across the country participate to highlight once again the regional medical reality where elderly people in rural and island areas, where population extinction is accelerating, cannot even afford to be sick with peace of mind, and where basic medical infrastructure necessary for raising children is insufficient. It will urge the government to establish national medical schools as a solution."

The five universities, including National Mokpo University, which have been cooperating to establish national medical schools, plan to deliver the contents discussed at the National Assembly forum and the joint petition adopted on the day to the Ministry of Health and Welfare after the event.