Pohang POSTECH Urges Establishment of 'Research-Centered Medical School,' Citizens' Voices Spread Strongly

Participation in Citizen Festivals and Events, Voices from All Walks of Life United for the Establishment of a Research-Oriented Medical School

Securing Bio Competitiveness and Improving Regional Healthcare... Need to Listen to Citizens' Calls for

The voices of citizens hoping for the establishment of a POSTECH research-oriented medical school in Pohang are growing increasingly passionate.

Mayor Lee Gang-deok, Chairman Baek In-gyu of the City Council, and other attendees of the 'Pohang R&BD Institution Heads Council' are urging the establishment of the 'Bio National Defense Pohang, POSTECH Research-Oriented Medical School.'

On the 19th, the government officially expressed its intention to expand medical school quotas for the 2025 academic year at the Essential Medical Innovation Strategy Meeting. President Yoon Seok-yeol also emphasized the importance of training physician-scientists, and with rising expectations for the establishment of a POSTECH research-oriented medical school, the citizens' determination to see it established is spreading more fervently than ever.

In this regard, citizens from all walks of life gathered at various autumn festivals and events are united in calling for the establishment of the ‘POSTECH Research-Oriented Medical School.’

First, following the all-citizen resolution rally held on the 14th across all 29 towns, townships, and neighborhoods, over 2,000 citizens participated in a resolution rally urging the establishment of a research-oriented medical school at the Homigot Peninsula Coastal Trail Walking Festival held at Cheongnim Stadium on the 21st.

The citizens attending these events stated that Pohang is the optimal place for expanding medical school quotas and training physician-scientists, which has recently become a national concern, and they pledged their commitment by chanting ‘Bio-Boguk Pohang, Research-Oriented Medical School POSTECH.’

On the 21st, more than 1,000 participants at the Barugesalgi Pohang City Council Unity Rally and the Korean Federation of Trade Unions Workers’ One-Heart Rally also shouted slogans together, urging the National Assembly and government to actively cooperate in establishing the research-oriented medical school.

Pohang POSTECH Workers' United Rally Urging the Establishment of a 'Research-Oriented Medical School'.

On the same day, Mayor Lee Kang-deok, City Council Chairman Baek In-gyu, and heads of about 20 local R&BD institutions gathered for the ‘Pohang R&BD Institution Heads Council,’ lending their support to the call for ‘Bio-Boguk Pohang, POSTECH Research-Oriented Medical School Establishment’ as a crucial alternative to overcome regional extinction through strengthening bio-industry’s super-gap competitiveness and dramatically improving local medical conditions.

Moreover, various small-scale events in towns, townships, and neighborhoods are also urging the establishment of the research-oriented medical school, and major city hubs such as KTX Pohang Station, terminals, and Jukdo Market are displaying banners expressing citizens’ earnest hopes and expectations.

Mayor Lee Kang-deok said, “Physician-scientists who developed COVID-19 vaccines and achieved astronomical sales, accelerating the growth of the U.S. bio-industry, were not doctors solely dedicated to patient care,” adding, “The government and medical community should listen carefully to citizens’ earnest voices asking to train physician-scientists equipped with engineering research capabilities to radically improve local medical conditions.”

With world-class excellent bio research infrastructure, Pohang has been steadily promoting the establishment of a research-oriented medical school and smart hospital in collaboration with Gyeongbuk Province and POSTECH since 2018, before the COVID-19 pandemic, to nurture physician-scientists who will lead regional medical innovation and strengthen bio-industry competitiveness.

As a result of continuous and diverse efforts, this initiative was selected as one of the new government’s 120 national tasks, and positive consensus has been formed with the Ministers of Education, Health and Welfare, Science and ICT, as well as the local medical community. Now, all regional capabilities are being gathered to achieve the ultimate goal of establishing the research-oriented medical school.